Artwork
Little Miss Hone
Little Miss Hone is an unspecified painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel F. B. Morse. It dates from 1824 and is held in the collection of the Museum of Fine Arts Boston.
About this work
Overview
Little Miss Hone is a 1824 painting by Samuel Finley Breese Morse, an artist who later became known for his work in telegraphy and coding. The work is a portrait of a young girl.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a young girl sitting with a cat wrapped in a cloth, wearing a white dress and a red hat with feathers and a bow. Her neutral expression engages the viewer directly, creating a calm atmosphere.
Technique & Style
The painting is characterized by a simple, direct style typical of American folk art during this period. The use of a light-colored background and a decorative column adds depth to the composition.
History & Provenance
Created early in Morse's career as a portraitist, Little Miss Hone showcases his skill as a painter before his later focus on inventions.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Finley Breese Morse was born on April 27, 1791, in Charlestown, Massachusetts, the eldest child of Reverend Jedidiah Morse, a Congregationalist pastor and author of early American geography textbooks, and Elizabeth Ann Breese Morse.
