Mrs. Joseph Allen Smith Izard (Emma Middleton Huger)

Artist: Bounetheau, Henry
Date: 1835

Mrs. Izard was a great supporter of the artist, and in a letter described the circumstances of her portrait: "I sat for my portrait soon after arriving from Goodwill, but the artist is so dissatisfied with the picture, that he now implores me not to shew it and to permit him to take another . . .. He laboured under great disadvantage in taking it, prime, I was the first lady whom he had taken, secondo, he had not touched the brush for months, terzo, he was little acquainted with my countenance, but he means the next to be "perfect". . . . He is self taught and quite deserving . . . and I trust he may be able to remain here where Heaven knows we have too little Genius, in any line Mr. Fraser's miniatures do not compare with his painting at present."

In its intensity, firm line and greenish coloring, Mrs. Izard's miniature does not resemble Fraser's at all, and thus she should have been very pleased with it.

Notes:

This text is adapted from Martha Severens "The Miniature Portrait Collection of the Carolina Art Association" published by the Carolina Art Association, 1984



  • Artist's Dates: 1797 - 1877 born and died in Charleston, SC
  • Artist's Nationality: American
  • Medium: Watercolor
  • Support: Ivory
  • Dimensions: 4 3/8 X 3 1/4 Inches
  • Signature: Bounetheau
  • Signature Location: bottom right
  • Credit: Gift of Rawlins Lowndes Cottenet and Fannie Marie Cottenet
  • Period: 19th century
  • Accession Number: 1951.006.0001
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