Snapshots of the Past

[Verso of oval portrait miniature in gold case, showing James Madison's hair in braided pattern] – Vintage Wall Art

[Verso of oval portrait miniature in gold case, showing James Madison's hair in braided pattern], [1783] — historic image
[Verso of oval portrait miniature in gold case, showing James Madison's hair in braided pattern], [1783]. Historic image from the Family Life collection.

(Originally scanned by the Library of Congress. Each image is professionally and digitally cleaned of artifacts such as color bars and extra borders prior to printing.)

Description

Few images capture their era like this historic image of [Verso of oval portrait miniature in gold case, showing James Madison's hair in braided pattern]. Sourced directly from the Library of Congress, it represents an authentic piece of documented history.

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[Verso of oval portrait miniature in gold case, showing James Madison's hair in braided pattern]

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The distinguishing feature here is the reverse of a small oval portrait miniature in a gold case, where the hair of James Madison has been worked into a braided pattern rather than painted. Keepsakes like this were a popular eighteenth-century custom: a sitter's hair, woven into intricate designs, was set behind glass so a loved one could be remembered in a tangible way. The record notes that the front of the miniature shows Madison himself and was given to Catherine "Kitty" Floyd, which ties the object to personal affection rather than public life. Dated to 1783, it is a rare glimpse of how Madison's circle expressed attachment, when he was still a young delegate to the Continental Congress.

Created / published[1783]
GenreDecorations 1780-1790.
NotesRecto contains portrait miniature of Madison given to Catherine Kitty" Floyd."
SubjectsMadison, James,--1751-1836--Associated objects.
SourceLibrary of Congress, Prints and Photographs Division
Original scan1,461 × 1,177 px · prints to 5 × 4 in at 300 dpi
ReferenceAMZ-SOTP-HPA-218047

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