Memorial Portrait of Catharine Schultz (1789-1832)

An item at Metropolitan Museum of Art

This painting and embroidery on silk was conceived as a memorial portrait following Catharine Schultz’s death in 1832 at age 43, but it shows her as a much younger woman. The likeness was probably copied from a miniature portrait painted when Catharine was around 15 years old as the empire style dress and hair style date to 1803-1806. Newspaper fragments from the backing of the original period frame have advertisements for businesses that appear in New York City directories from 1833-37, which help date the portrait. The painted face is highly expressive and well-painted, undoubtedly by a professional. The needlework was likely done by one of Catharine Schultz’s female relatives.

The American Wing

An exhibit at Metropolitan Museum of Art

The American Wing's ever-evolving collection comprises some 20,000 works of art by African American, Euro American, Latin American, and Native American men and women. Ranging from the colonial to early-modern periods, the holdings include painting, sculpture, works on paper, and decorative arts—including furniture, textiles, ceramics, glass, silver, metalwork, jewelry, basketry, quill and bead embroidery—as well as historical interiors and architectural fragments.

Metropolitan Museum of Art