Artwork
Unknown woman, unfinished
Unknown woman, unfinished is an unspecified painting by Jeremiah Meyer. It dates from 1772 and is held in the collection of the Nationalmuseum.
About this work
Overview
Created circa 1772 by Jeremiah Meyer, a German‑born artist active in Britain, this small portrait presents a young woman whose identity remains unknown. The work is held by the Nationalmuseum and is notable for its unfinished state, allowing viewers to see the artist’s hand at work.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter is shown with brown hair gathered back, dressed in a blue gown trimmed with a white collar. Her eyes look toward the left and her expression is neutral, offering no narrative clues beyond the formal conventions of 18th‑century portraiture.
Technique & Style
Meyer employed the delicate brushwork typical of miniature painting, leaving portions of the canvas exposed and the border incomplete. The limited palette of blues and whites creates a subtle gradation in the background, while the handling of light suggests an early exploration of chiaroscuro within a small format.
History & Provenance
Meyer, who served as Painter in Miniatures to Queen Charlotte and Painter in Enamels to King George III, was a founding member of the Royal Academy. The painting entered the Nationalmuseum’s collection at an unspecified date, where it remains part of the institution’s representation of British miniature portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Jeremiah Meyer (born Jeremias Majer; 18 January 1735 – 19 January 1789) was a German-born British painter who specialised in miniature portraits.
