Laight served as President of the Eagle Fire Insurance company of New York for twenty-five years. In 1802 he married a Charlestonian, Anne Huger. Recorded in Malbone's account book for December, 1802, the miniature was painted in New York and Malbone received $50. Laight's portrait reveals the influence of English miniaturists in the inclined position of the head, the faraway gaze and delicate transparency of the background. However, the portrait has a robustness and substance often lacking in English examples.
Notes:
This text is adapted from Martha Severens "The Miniature Portrait Collection of the Carolina Art Association" published by the Carolina Art Association, 1984
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