Mrs. Jacob Motte (Rebecca Brewton) 1758

Jeremiah Theus painted this miniature portrait of Mrs. Jacob Motte, Rebecca Brewton, using watercolor on ivory. The oval format, enclosed in a gold frame, immediately presents a sense of containment and preciousness. The composition is dominated by soft, muted colors, with the blues of her dress and hair ribbon contrasting gently against the pale skin and background. The artist's delicate brushwork creates a smooth, almost porcelain-like texture, enhancing the sitter's idealized beauty. Theus has captured Rebecca Brewton with an emphasis on symmetry and balance, aligning with the conventions of portraiture during this period, yet this formal rigidity subtly undermines a more intimate and personal representation. This tension between formal constraint and individual expression invites us to consider how social codes of representation could both shape and be challenged by artistic skill. The very act of miniaturization alters how we consider scale and value.