Benjamin West of Salem, Massachusetts

Not to be confused with the well-known painter of the same name, the subject of this miniature is Benjamin West (1739–1809), who lived in Salem, Massachusetts. On 9 August 1762 he married Abigail Phippen (b. 1743). West was around sixty years old when he sat for this likeness. It is housed in an expensive case with a reverse window ornamented with a band of reverse-painting and gilding that showcases two colors of hair woven together. Shot through with gray, the hair is a tender reminder of a long, loving relationship presumably between Benjamin and Abigail. This miniature was a treasured keepsake for the West family and it remained in their possession for more than a century.