Stephen Salisbury III
Artist
Eliza Goodridge
American, 1798–1882
Date1838
Mediumwatercolor on ivory
Dimensions10.5 x 7.8 cm (4 1/8 x 3 1/16 in.)
ClassificationsPortrait Miniatures
Credit LineGift of Stephen Salisbury III
Object number1901.39
Descriptionleather case with velvet and ormolu matsLabel TextBefore American art academies opened their doors to female students in the late 1800s, women had limited opoprtunities for formal training and professional art careers. One exception was miniature painting. This branch of art was considered appropriate for women given the small scale, delicate brushwork, and private circulation of these watercolor-on-ivory pictures. In the late 18th and early 19th centuries, miniatures functioned as tokens of affection —they were commissioned to depict a loved one and shown to family and friends.Eliza Goodridge learned the craft from her older sister Sarah, who had a studio in Boston. Eliza's skill is evident here in her ability to capture minute details and a lifelike presence of her sitter, Worcester's Stephen Salisbury III (1835-1905).ProvenanceStephen Salisbury III, Worcester, MA
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