Who painted Maria Clarissa Leavitt?

Maria Clarissa Leavitt was painted by Samuel Lovett Waldo in 1820.

Where can I see Maria Clarissa Leavitt?

Maria Clarissa Leavitt is held by Brooklyn Museum.

What movement is Maria Clarissa Leavitt?

Maria Clarissa Leavitt is associated with American Folk Art.

Artwork

Maria Clarissa Leavitt

Samuel Lovett Waldo , 1820

Maria Clarissa Leavitt is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel Lovett Waldo. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.

About this work

Overview

Samuel Lovett Waldo’s oil portrait, painted in 1820, presents Maria Clarissa Leavitt seated in a chair and looking directly at the viewer. The work is part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection and exemplifies early‑19th‑century American portraiture, focusing on a single sitter rendered with careful attention to dress and demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The sitter, Maria Clarissa Leavitt, is shown with dark, curled hair and dressed in a black gown trimmed with a white lace collar, a shawl draped over her shoulders. The composition conveys a sense of personal dignity and social standing, reflecting the conventions of genteel portraiture that emphasized refinement and composure.

Technique & Style

Waldo employed a smooth, blended oil technique to model the figure’s features and fabric, creating a subtle play of light on the lace and shawl. The warm brown background provides a muted backdrop that enhances the contrast of the dark dress, while the overall handling reflects the neoclassical influence prevalent among American portraitists of the period.

History & Provenance

Created in 1820, the portrait entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings through acquisition (specific acquisition details are not recorded in the source). It remains attributed to Waldo, a prolific portraitist whose works documented many members of the early American elite.

Context

In the early 19th century, portraiture served both as a record of individual identity and as a visual affirmation of status. Waldo’s depiction of Leavitt aligns with contemporary expectations for formal attire and restrained elegance, situating the work within the broader tradition of American portraiture that sought to convey moral virtue and social respectability.