John Borden, Father of Thomas Wix Borden
Smithsonian American Art Museum

John Borden, Father of Thomas Wix Borden

Unidentified · ca. 1820

watercolor on paper
Smithsonian American Art Museum
CC0 — Public Domain
Smithsonian American Art Museum

The artist painted miniatures of John Borden, his wife Comfort, and their son Thomas Hicks. In this portrait, the artist emphasized small details like the tendrils of John Borden’s hair, his sideburns, and the shape of his nose. The formality of Borden’s pose and his placement in the setting are significant because he faces his wife and child, indicating his role as the head of the family.

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