Artwork
Baby with Locket
Baby with Locket is a pastel drawing by the Romanticist artist American 19th Century. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
A baby in a white dress holds a small gold locket. The locket is the only spot of color in the soft pink and gray pastel. The baby’s face is the brightest part.
This was made in 1813, early 1800s America. Pastel sticks were used, not paint. The colors stay fresh because of it.
Look for similar soft faces at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
Overview
Baby with Locket is a pastel drawing created in 1813, characterized by a predominantly soft pink and gray color palette with a single accent of color, a gold locket held by the infant subject.
Subject & Meaning
The drawing depicts a baby dressed in white, focusing attention on the child's face, the brightest element in the composition, and the gold locket, which introduces a touch of warmth and narrative intrigue.
Technique & Style
Executed with pastel sticks rather than paint, the work retains its vibrant freshness due to the medium's inherent properties. The soft, gentle rendering of the baby's face aligns with contemporaneous portrait styles, as seen in similar works at the National Gallery of Art, Washington.
History & Provenance
Created in the early 19th century (1813) in America, specific details about the artist or the subject's identity are not provided in the available information.
Context
The piece reflects the artistic preferences of early 1800s America, where pastel portraiture was valued for its delicacy and ability to capture subtle expressions, particularly in depictions of children and women.
Artist & collection
Artist
This artist painted everyday American life in the 1800s. Look at *Farmhouse in Mahantango Valley*—a quiet, sunlit scene of rural Pennsylvania. *Boy and Girl* shows two children standing close, their faces turned toward…
