Place Made

Date Made

1800-1810

Medium

watercolor on ivory –glass –brass

Dimensions

HOA: (oval) 2 7/8″

Accession Number

2776.3

Description

SITTER: Known in the family in which it descended as “the Barksdale miniature,” it depicts Mary Vanderhorst (1750-1814), a daughter of Elizabeth Simons and Arnoldus Vanderhorst (1723-1765), who married Thomas Barksdale (1745-1800) in 1770. The Barksdales owned Younghall Plantation in Christ Church Parish and a three-story brick townhouse on Tradd Street, near East Bay. As Mary is depicted wearing black, the miniature was probably painted after her husband’s death on June 25, 1800.

DESCRIPTION: Watercolor on ivory, miniature portrait of woman. Hair weaving shows through window on back. Contained in a red and gold jewelry box from Cartier’s.

Credit Line

MESDA Purchase Fund