Artwork
Portraits of Surinamese girls
Portraits of Surinamese girls is an ivory painting by Unknown. It dates from 1805 and is held in the collection of the Rijksmuseum. Carved from a single piece of ivory, this miniature portrait depicts a young Surinamese girl.
About this work
Overview
Carved from a single piece of ivory, this miniature portrait depicts a young Surinamese girl. The figure is rendered in low relief, measuring only a few centimeters and suspended by a metal ring that suggests pendant use. Its intimate scale indicates it was intended as a personal object rather than a public display.
Subject & Meaning
The girl is shown with short, dark hair and a plain white dress fastened at the neck. Her expression is calm, eyes steady, conveying a sense of quiet dignity. The simplicity of attire and unadorned background focus attention on the individual’s presence, reflecting a tradition of portable portraiture that honored personal identity.
Technique & Style
The carving employs chiaroscuro, using subtle variations in depth to model light and shadow across the ivory surface. This gradation creates a three‑dimensional effect despite the work’s flat plane, highlighting facial features and the folds of the dress while preserving the material’s natural translucence.
History & Provenance
Such ivory miniatures were commonly produced in the 18th and 19th centuries for private collectors, often as keepsakes or tokens exchanged among families. The specific origin of this piece is not documented, but its style and material align with European colonial workshops that catered to patrons in Suriname and the broader Caribbean region.
Artist & collection
Domestic Scene
Giacomo and Cardinal Marco, investing Andrea, Abbot of San Zeno, with his Benefice
The Nymph of Fontainebleau
Portrait of a Woman
Madonna and Child with Saints in the Enclosed Garden
Venus and Minerva
Family Group of Four on Sofa
Wall painting from Room H of the Villa of P. Fannius Synistor at Boscoreale
