John Alexander McDougall: A Miniature Master of the Hudson Valley John Alexander McDougall (c.1810–1894) stands as a quietly significant figure in 19th-century American art, primarily recognized for his exquisite portrait miniatures. Born in Livingston, New Jersey, in a modest household—his father was a cabinetmaker—McDougall’s artistic journey began with formal training at the National Academy of Design in New York City, yet he ultimately established himself as a prominent artist within the more intimate world of Newark, New Jersey. His life intertwined with some of America's most celebrate…