A Gentleman by Robert Field, signed & dated 1808.

  Set in the original gold locket frame, the reverse with blue glass surrounding hair in a feather design tied with seed pearls and gold wire on a bed of milk glass.   The  miniature is signed lower right, RF/ 1808.
 
2 7/8 inches high.
 
Robert Field (c.1769-1819) Called by Mrs. Foskett "one of the best American miniaturists of his time," and by Dale Johnson "the most accomplished of the foreign-born miniaturists painting in America," the British citizen graduated from the Royal Academy Schools as an engraver before sailing for Baltimore in 1794.  Quickly attracting the patronage of Robert Gilmor, Field painted the prominent citizens of Maryland before settling in Philadelphia, where he, Walter Robertson and J.H. Barralet shared rooms along with the job of copying Gilbert Stuart's portraits of Washington in miniature.  From 1800-1805, Field worked in Washington and Baltimore. During that time, he held the position of Martha Washington's favorite miniaturist, taking several life portraits of her (Yale University Art Gallery).  From 1805-1808, Field worked in Boston, but when tensions with England again started to rise, Field, who had remained a loyalist,  moved on to Halifax.  There he quickly impressed the royal governor and was soon painting the aristocracy of Nova Scotia.  In 1816, Field moved to Jamaica, dying there of yellow fever three years later. 

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