Robert Field

Robert Field (1769–1819) was a painter who was born in London and died in Kingston, Jamaica. According to art historian Daphne Foskett, author of A Dictionary of British Miniature Painters, Field was "one of the best American miniaturists of his time." During Field's time in Nova Scotia at the beginning of the nineteenth century, he was the most professionally trained painter in present-day Canada. He worked in the conventional neo-classic portrait style of Henry Raeburn and Gilbert Stuart. His most famous works are two groups of miniatures of George Washington, commissioned by his wife Martha Washington. (Field's miniatures of both are in the Yale University Art Gallery permanent collection.)

America He received his early training at Royal Academy schools in London in 1790. In 1794, he moved to the United States, first living in Baltimore before taking up residence in Philadelphia, the nation's first capital. In Philadelphia, Field immediately joined a group of artists led by Charles Willson Peale in establishing the Columbianum, or American Academy of the Fine Arts, which was eventually superseded by the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1805.

Field spent 14 years in the U.S., working as a miniature painter in Baltimore, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and Boston. During this period, he produced miniatures of George and Martha Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and a wide range of people prominent in the social, economic, and political life of American society.

Nova Scotia When tensions between America and England started to rise in the lead up to the War of 1812, Field remained a loyalist and moved from Boston to Halifax, Nova Scotia (1808). He served in the 1st Company of Halifax Volunteer Artillery in 1812. He became a member of the Charitable Irish Society of Halifax.

He continued to produce miniatures, but he also painted oil portraits of government officials, military officers, merchants, and assorted members of the Halifax "gentility"; among his subjects were Bishop Charles Inglis, former lieutenant governor Sir John Wentworth, Sir George Prevost, Sir John Coape Sherbrooke, Admiral of the Fleet Sir Provo William Parry Wallis, and Sir Alexander Forrester Inglis Cochrane, vice-admiral in the Royal Navy (whose portrait was shown at the Royal Academy exhibition in London in 1810). Mrs. George Washington John Merrick (architect), (Province House) Sir Alexander Cochrane Sir Edward Parry Commissioner John Nicholson Inglefield Hon. Michael Wallace Hon. Lawrence Hartshorne Hon. Charles Morris, 3rd Adam DeChezeau Rev. Dr. Archibald Gray and Mrs. Gray Andrew Wrightand sister Mary Dr. William J. Almon Hon. James Fraser Judge James Stewart Sir John Wentworth, 1st Baronet Dr. John Halliburton Charles Geddes John Bremner Captain Thomas Maynard, R. N. Rear Admiral Herbert Sawyer Hon. William Lawson (banker) (Bank of Nova Scotia) Dr. Joseph Prescott Dr. Mather Byles Captain Nicholas Thomas Hill