American School, possibly John Wood Dodge (1807-1893) mid 19th century miniature watercolor portrait of a gentleman, believed to be Robert Maitland (b. 1768, Scotland, d. 1846, Westchester County, NY). The white haired, blue eyed subject is depicted in a black coat with black tie, the edge of a red chair barely visible behind his back. Housed under glass in a later frame with gold linen mat. Sight - 3 5/8" H x 2 3/4" W. Framed - 7" H x 5 7/8" W. Circa 1850. Property of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, Sold to Benefit Future Acquisitions. Note: Robert Maitland was a merchant in Petersburg, Virginia, who later established himself in a very prosperous mercantile business in New York. He was a member of the group known at the "House of Lords" which met at Baker's Tavern every night, and included such men as Gulian Verplanck, Robert Lenox, Preserved Fish, and John Wesley Jarvis. Prominent painter of miniature portraits John Wood Dodge was born in New York City where he lived in the early part of his career. By 1840 he had moved South to become an itinerant portrait artist, basing himself for ten years in Nashville, Tennessee and later, Huntsville, Alabama.