Collections record Beta

Portrait Miniature - Eliza Ferris Parsons (1811-1902)

2018-08-1 a,b

A - Watercolor on ivory portrait miniature of Eliza Ferris Parsons. Bust portrait of a young woman wearing a black dress with white lace trim and a long, thing chain of gold around her neck. Facing slightly right against a background of tan, brown, and off-white. Oval portrait set in brass locket with elaborate molded motifs along edge and top loop; under convex glass. Back of locket has hair reverse containing light brown hair, possibly that of sitter. Engraved in script below, "J.B.P." B - Outer case for locket. Oval album case of red leather with silk lining and hook clasps. Originally contained card of Mrs. Alexander McNeill with ink writing on reverse, "Eliza Ferris Cock at the age of 18 when she was married to James Bowne Parsons of New York. She was the mother of Mrs. George M. Woodruff."

The "J.B.P." on the reverse of the locket likely stands for the sitter's husband, James Bowne Parsons, but could also stand for her son, John Bowne Parsons. The note originally kept inside the case misidentifies the date of her marriage: if the miniature shows her at the age of 18, it would date to 1829; if it is from the time of their marriage, it would date to 1831.

Eliza Ferris (Cock) Parsons was born in New York in 1811 and died in Denver, Colorado in 1902. In 1831 she married James Bowne Parsons (1809-1894) of Long Island. The Parsons were living in Litchfield at the time of James's death. Her daughter, Elizabeth Ferris, married George M. Woodruff of Litchfield.

• Unknown artist (American School)

c.1829

Overall height 3.75", width 2.625", depth 0.375"

• human hair
• leather
• watercolor
• glass
• ivory
• brass
• silk