Worn as pendants and bracelets, carried within a pocket, or hung in a cabinet, portrait miniatures were prized for their likenesses of family members, friends, and loved ones as well as for their minute size, precious materials, and skillful execution. The anniversary gift of a remarkable group of eighteenth- and nineteenth-century miniatures assembled by Jeannette B. S. Whitebook Lasker forms a prominent addition to the Museum’s collection, contributing works in innovative and challenging techniques by leading artists.

Miss Henrietta Sprigg of Strawberry Hill near Annapolis, Maryland, was painted in a large oval miniature by Robert Field shortly after he arrived from England in 1794. Set against a sweeping red curtain with a pillar and clouds in the background, she has a youthful, fresh expression that demonstrates Field’s early talent. Jennifer Thompson, from Philadelphia Museum of Art: Gifts in Honor of the 125th Anniversary (2002), p. 68.