MIDDLETON WATERCOLOR ALBUM

Creator(s): Alphonse Giroux et Cie (Artist)

Currently in storage

About this object

The Middleton Watercolor Album consists of a collection of 45 watercolor portraits bound in leather covers with neo-gothic embossing and a gilt bronze clasp in the same style. The album relates to the Middleton family of South Carolina, from which it descended until Hillwood purchased it in 2004. Williams Middleton—who was secretary to his father, Henry Middleton, the American minister to St. Petersburg from 1820 to 1830—assembled this album. The artist of many of the watercolors, most of which are unsigned, is likely Middleton's sister, Maria Henrietta, who studied painting during her years in St. Petersburg with her governess, Madame Mathes, who also painted miniatures. Among the portraits are Russians and people in the foreign community who were close associates of the Middleton family. Their portraits provide an extraordinary commentary on the fashion and hairstyles of the 1820s. See catalog numbers 52.39.1-.45 to view the individual portraits.

The album consists of a collection of 45 watercolor portraits bound in leather covers embossed with a neo-gothic design and a gilt bronze clasp in the same style. The album relates to the Middleton family of South Carolina from which it descended until the time of purchase by Hillwood.

Object name:

MIDDLETON WATERCOLOR ALBUM

Made from:

Leather

Made in:

Paris, France

Date made:

1825-1835

Size:

2.5 × 26.7 × 19.7 cm (1 × 10 1/2 × 7 3/4 in.)

Detailed information for this item

Catalog number:

52.39

Signature marks:

LABEL […] Giroux / […] Coq St. Honoré N° 7 à Paris INSCRIPTION vux / eax in pencil INSCRIPTION W. Middleton in ink

Credit line:

Museum Purchase, 2004