American Artist: William H. Miller

Jacksonian Era Gentleman
with Long Sideburns

American
circa 1840
attributed to William H. Miller (active 1836-1860)

2 x 2 1/2 inches

watercolor on ivory; housed under glass in a gilded
copper case with a cast foliate border and bail

A view of the portrait outside its case, allowing its colors and
brush strokes to be seen more clearly without the distortion or
reflection that is often caused by the glass lens of a miniature's case.
(Click + symbol above for an enlarged view)

A view of the reverse side of the ivory substrate showing how,
similar to the work of Abraham Parsell, the painter took
advantage of the translucent nature of the ivory by applying
shading (with both graphite and paint -- some of which has
flaked off) to the reverse to enhance the image on the obverse
(Click + symbol above for an enlarged view)