William Smallwood 1795 - 1801

James Peale created this watercolor on ivory miniature of William Smallwood sometime in the late 18th or early 19th century. The small scale and intimate nature of portrait miniatures speaks to a specific kind of social relationship. In this period, portrait miniatures were often commissioned as tokens of affection or remembrance, and circulated within family and close social circles. The practice of miniature portraiture speaks to a culture of both intimacy and status, as only those with sufficient means could afford to commission such works. As historians, we look at sources like letters, diaries, and account books to understand the social and economic contexts in which these artworks were produced and consumed. What can the story of this painting tell us about class, gender, and social networks in the early American republic?