Robert Field
Robert Field (1769–1819) was a highly accomplished North American miniaturist whose practice flourished during the formative years of the American republic. Active primarily between 1797 and 1804, Field specialized in painting highly detailed portraits on ivory, a medium that required exceptional technical discipline and patience. His work provides an important visual record of the political and mercantile elite in the transitional post-Revolutionary period.
Field’s success was rooted in his ability to capture the individual character of his sitters within the demanding small scale of the miniature. His technique is characterized by luminous brushwork, particularly in the rendering of skin tones, complemented by crisp, meticulous detail in clothing and accessories. This sustained quality ensures that his portraits remain compelling even after two centuries, often reaching museum-quality status in institutional collections.
Perhaps his most historically significant commission is the miniature of George Washington, a work particularly valued for its immediacy and historical proximity to the first President, standing alongside grander, full-scale oil portraits of the same subject. Field further documented the Washington circle through commissions such as the portrait of George Washington Park Custis, the step-grandson and adopted son of the revered figure. Other important works, including the likenesses of Sharp Delany and Jonathan Henderson (1772-1833), confirm his status as the preferred artist for figures of political and commercial consequence in Philadelphia and beyond.
Today, Field’s legacy is preserved in major institutions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Art Institute of Chicago. A curious element of his historical record is the persistent need for careful attribution; several individuals named Robert Field were active during the same era, requiring scholars to distinguish the dedicated miniaturist from his namesakes who specialized in chemistry or legislation. Despite this occasional ambiguity, his importance as a portraitist of the early American elite is undisputed, ensuring that original Robert Field paintings and drawings are preserved, often enabling the creation of high-quality prints and downloadable artwork for historical study.
