Richard Morrell Staigg: A Boston Miniature Maestro Richard Morrell Staigg (1817 – 1881) stands as a quietly influential figure in the landscape of 19th-century American portraiture, particularly renowned for his exquisite miniature paintings. Born in obscurity, Staigg’s artistic journey began unexpectedly when he was apprenticed to an architect's office at the tender age of thirteen—a formative experience that instilled within him a disciplined eye and fostered early exposure to visual craftsmanship. This initial training swiftly transitioned into focused instruction in portrait painting, se…