CC0 · no rights reserved
William Boswell Lamb
From the collection of Smithsonian American Art Museum. Free to download, adapt and use — no permission needed.
About this work
This miniature was probably painted to commemorate the 1794 marriage of William Boswell Lamb and Margaret Stuart Kerr. Mr. Lamb was an important political figure in Norfolk, Virginia, where he began his service as mayor in 1810. The couple’s son, William Wilson Lamb, was also involved in politics and was known for hiding the city’s silver mace beneath a fireplace hearth to protect it during the Civil War. The artist painted a vivid blue background to highlight the detailed costume of the elder Lamb. In his wife’s portrait, however, the subtle colors and delicate brushwork emphasize her wide eyes and tightly curled hair.
Smithsonian American Art Museum’s own descriptionSubjects
Credit lineWilliam Boswell Lamb. ca. 1795. Unidentified. Smithsonian American Art Museum, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase. CC0.
