Work in progress
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American miniatures added to the Artists and Ancestors collection since January 2026 include those below; Some items may be amended, and/or more added, during 2026.
Visitors to this website, are welcome to offer comments, especially with suggested attributions. Helpful comments can be added to this post, or sent by email.
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This miniature was offered a a "British miniature", but in being purchased, it was the opinion of this collector it was more likely an American miniature, painted c. 1770-80, which was later rehoused in imported British casework of around 1800. In the Met catalogue, there are similar rehoused examples, of smaller miniatures, rehoused in larger case-work, including on page 63, one by Nathaniel Hancock.
The miniature here, (ds 1526) is possibly by Hancock, but it also has similarities with miniatures of c.1775-80, painted by Charles Willson Peale. It has stronger colouring than most CWP miniatures, which often have a more blue colouring, due to fading and a fugitive red pigment, but may possibly have been re-touched at the time it was rehoused. Another, less likely artist is John Ramage, as his miniatures are more usually painted with the sitter in a left-facing profile.
Relevant in attributing early American miniatures is the sight size, this one being 32mm x 27mm. That size is identical to a 1769 self-portrait by John Singleton Copley, in the Met collection. The pose is also similar to that self-portrait, and to a Copley miniature of Moses Gill, painted c.1759. The miniature also appears to have similar "gold-type" trim, as depicted in the self-portrait, also that of Gill, and another of Jeremiah Lee, painted by Copley in 1769. Copley left for London in 1775, so it is faintly possible he painted this in London, and the work was a transitory piece bridging the "modest school" size of miniature, placed directly into the mew fashion for larger casework. Thus, it is possible the artist was Copley, but confirmation will need the opinion of someone more knowledgeable than this collector.
Miniatures by CWP, of a similar size, and in similar pose, and painted c.1776, are on pages 34-36 of the Met catalogue. Until a clearer opinion surfaces, this miniature is attributed as a possible Charles William Peale.
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Next is an American miniature, which after arrival, has been attributed to Anson Dickinson (1779-1852), it being in a typical red case of around 1835, There are multiple similar miniatures in Anson Dickinson, the Celebrated Miniature Painter, 1779-1852, Connecticut Historical Society, by Mona Leithiser Dearborn, and in the Met.catalogue, pages 100-104.
There are other examples by Anson Dickinson elsewhere in this Artists and Ancestors collection. ds 1531.
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This next miniature is also believed to be American, probably from the Boston area, judging by the painted eglomise decoration on the border framing. The artist is less certain, but it may be by Daniel Dickinson (1795-1977), see the examples on pages 140-141 of the Met catalogue. ds 1532.
The reverse has a hard to read note, needing more research, but appearing to read;
"Nicholas Fischer, son of Johann Seigfried. Fischer of Seliganne, Dobre (?) Bova set (?), Nauteo 1719 (?)."
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Another American miniature is more firmly attributed to Charles Willson Peale (1741-1827) ds 1534. The miniature, of 36mm x 30mm, is still in its original case, and has the typical blue toning of many CWP miniatures, with the reverse having a short, stuck on, note reading; "Capt. Loring RN. Mary Macneal of Ugadale.".
The previous owner, did not know the artist, and had assumed the miniature was a portrait of Admiral Sir John Wentworth Loring, KCB, KCH (13 October 1775 – 29 July 1852) a Royal Navy officer of the early nineteenth century, best known for his service in the Napoleonic Wars as a frigate commander. Born in the Thirteen Colonies at the outbreak of the American War of Independence, Loring's family fled to Britain and he subsequently joined the Royal Navy aged 13. In 1793, aged 17, Loring was badly wounded in combat at the start of the French Revolutionary Wars. He subsequently served throughout the following 23 years of warfare between Britain and France, and eventually became a full admiral. (Wikipedia)
John Wentworth Loring was born in October 1775 at the start of the American War of Independence to Joshua Loring, High Sheriff of Massachusetts. John's grandfather, Joshua Loring, had served in the navy in the Seven Years' War, commanding a squadron on the Great Lakes. The Loring family were Loyalists, and were ultimately forced to flee to Britain. In 1789, 13-year-old John Loring joined the Royal Navy, serving in HMS Salisbury before joining HMS Victory at the outbreak of the French Revolutionary Wars. (Wikipedia) See;
Royal Naval Biography/Loring, John Wentworth
For comparative purposes, there is another CWP miniature of Colonel Pope in the collection, in original case, and the same blue toning. There is an apparent small paint loss on his shoulder, to represent where his Colonel's epaulette was positioned, perhaps in gold, which may have since fallen off. ds 1495
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| Joshua Loring (1716-81) |
However, this collector doubted the portrait was of John Wentworth Loring, as it appeared to be painted c.1775-80, when John Wentworth Loring would have been aged only 5.
Instead, before purchasing for this collection, the note on the reverse was researched online, leading to this collector's belief the miniature actually depicts Commodore/Captain Joshua Loring (1716-81), the grandfather of Admiral John Wentworth Loring.
A portrait of Commodore Joshua Loring Sr. wearing a navy uniform, and wearing a bag wig, has obvious similarity with the CWP miniature. That portrait of Commodore Joshua Loring, at Jamaica Plain by Way of London — is displayed by the Jamaica Plain Historical Society.
See;
Commodore Joshua Loring, Jamaica Plain by Way of London — Jamaica ...
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| Joshua Loring Jr. (1744-89) |
There is a long Wikipedia reference to Joshua Loring Sr. which is helpful, but is unfortunately, and mistakenly, illustrated with a portrait of his son, Joshua Loring Jr. (1744-89), which depicts Joshua Loring Jr. wearing a red British army uniform, as Commissary General and per the description below,
Joshua Loring - Wikipedia
Whereas Joshua Loring Sr. was in the Royal Navy and so wore a blue uniform. The reference includes;Loring's eldest son, Joshua Loring, Jr., served as high-sheriff in Suffolk County, Massachusetts[ and was Commissary General of American prisoners-of-war in New York from 1777 until 1783. Together with William Cunningham, he was held responsible for the deaths from starvation and disease of thousands of Americans held prisoner on ships moored in New York Harbor. "[B]ut it is not easy to ascertain the truth, or to determine his personal responsibility in the treatment of prisoners." He was discharged from his office on the grounds of corruption and departed for England, where he died in 1789. Joshua Loring, Jr's son, John Wentworth Loring, served in the Royal Navy and rose to the rank of admiral."
A popular story recounts that, asked by an old friend what he would do when faced by a choice between remaining loyal and supporting the popular spirit of revolt, Joshua Loring Sr. replied "I have always eaten the King's bread, and always intend to."
The Loring family tree shows the connection, via the note on the reverse, between Joshua Loring Sr. and Mary Macneal of Ugadale. An abbreviation of the descendants in the Joshua Loring family tree at;
Joshua Loring (1716-1781) - WikiTree
includes one of his sons, John Loring;
- Mary Eliza (Loring) MacNeal (29 May 1802 - 25 Dec 1861) m. George MacNeal (abt 1793 - 23 Feb 1861) on 26 Dec 1821.
- Hector MacNeal (10 Jul 1822 - 02 Oct 1905) m. Constance Glencairn Campbell (16 Jul 1839 - 02 Jan 1912) on 27 Mar 1862.
- Mary Henrietta (MacNeal) Greenlees (20 Feb 1871 - 1917) m. Daniel Colville Greenlees (05 Mar 1869 - 11 Mar 1931) on 1896.
Hence the note on reverse of the CWP miniature "Capt. Loring RN. Mary Macneal of Ugadale.".refers to a granddaughter of Joshua Loring Sr.: Mary Eliza (Loring) Macneal, marrying George Macneal on 26 December 1821. The FindaGrave link for George Macneal, Esq. (1793-1861), of Ugadale, confirms Ugadale as his home, and his 1821 marriage to Mary Eliza Loring Macneal (1802-61);
George MacNeal (1793-1861) - Memorials
There are multiple Internet links to the home built by Joshua Loring Sr. These include;
History - The House
Slavery at the Loring Greenough House
A partial history reads;
The history of the Loring Greenough House begins in 1760 when Joshua Loring, a commodore in the English Colonial naval forces, constructed the large four-square frame residence in the historic center of Jamaica Plain. An outstanding example of Georgian Colonial architecture, the House was the hub of a large and actively developed farm that was Loring’s chief interest following his retirement from military service. His life as a distinguished member of the Colonial gentry came to an abrupt end with the bitter factionalism of the incipient Revolution. He fled the House in August 1774, for the greater security of Boston. He and his family permanently left Boston for England in 1776.
As there seems no reason to doubt the provenance outlined above, a genuine email attempt was recently made, to acquaint the Loring Greenough House, with this new discovery of a CWP miniature of Joshua Loring Sr. with the offer that they would be welcome to freely add the CWP image of Joshua Loring Sr. to their website if they so wished.
But, no reply, nor any acknowledgement, was received from the managers of Loring Greenough House.
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Another American miniature of a young man and recently acquired is dated around 1820-25. The portrait appears painted by an untrained hand. The artist is not immediately obvious, but there seem two possibilities; ds 1536.
- George Loring Brown (1814-89) where the noses, pose, and profile are similar to two miniatures in the Worcester Art Museum catalogue, p.42-43. Presumably, Gorge Loring Brown was related to Joshua Loring in some way? The G L Brown miniatures seem a close match, being in an untrained, almost primitive style.
- Samuel F. B. Morse (1791-1872) where there is a young man in a similar pose on p. 129 of the Met catalogue.
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As a change from previous male sitters, an American addition is a well-dressed young lady; ds 1537
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| Metropolitan Museum |
Although, unusually, being painted on paper, as most miniatures are on ivory, the miniature is now attributed to William P Sheys (active 1813-23). Her ruff collar is typical of c.1820.
In size, profile, pose, and detail it is very similar to the William P Sheys portrait of a similar young lady on page 128 of the Met catalogue. The case is a typical, tired, red case of around 1820-40.
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The next American miniature is also of an attractive young lady wearing a black dress, in a battered, but also typical red case; ds 1551. She was likely painted around 1830-35, and there are multiple other examples in this collection of young ladies wearing similar black dresses from c.1830-35; So many that the iconic, "the little black dress", usually attributed to a 20C origin, was perhaps merely copying the"little black dresses" of c. 1830-35.
There are multiple similar portrait of young ladies in black dresses, elsewhere in this Artists and Ancestors collection. ds 1531. No artist attribution has yet been made, but should be possible with some more research. One possibility is Christopher Martin Greiner.
However, a kind visitor has observed stylistic similarities with a miniature by Daniel F. Ames (1803-86), on page 158 of the Met catalogue. That suggestion is accepted, and hence now regarded as an attribution; that is, until any better idea emerges.
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With a little embarrassment, here are two modern American miniatures, of c.1970-80; ds 1540
On of them is noted on the reverse as "a wax miniature by Aileen". They are small wax portraits of George and Martha Washington. What is unusual, is that the detailed wax heads and clothes, are embellished or decorated, with the addition of actual fabric and lace trimmings.
Although they may not properly merit inclusion in a collection of American miniatures, they were acquired as "space fillers" instead of seeking out actual miniatures by Mary Way (1769-1833). Miniatures by her, are very rare, and highly valued, so unlikely for examples to ever be acquired for this collection. The Met catalogue, p.76, describes her work;
She made miniatures in watercolor on paper as well as "dressed" miniatures-collages of cut-paper watercolor profiles with costumes made from cloth, braid, lace, and other trimmings, all mounted on a fabric background."
Thus, these wax heads of George and Martha Washington, with lace and other trimmings are "space-fillers", as an approximation of the miniatures by Mary Way.
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A more typical American 19C miniature, is this one of an elegant young man. Unusually, for miniatures of this period, the case is complete. ds 1557.
The case has not been opened, seeking a signature, as the bezel seems firmly in place. However, the portrait is comparable in style and date, to works by John Wood Dodge and Moses B Russell, both of whom normally included details on the backing paper inside the case.
Works of similar quality by J W Dodge, and dating around 1830-40, are on pages 185-189 of the Met catalogue. With similar works by M B Russell on pages 193-194 of the Met catalogue.
There are multiple similar portraits of young men or of ladies, by J W Dodge or M B Russell, elsewhere in this Artists and Ancestors collection
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There are several other American miniature, still in transit.
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