William P. Sheys: A Delicate Touch on Ivory William P. Sheys (circa 1788 – 1850) remains an enigmatic figure within American art history, a master craftsman whose legacy resides primarily in the exquisite realm of watercolor miniatures executed upon ivory—a technique that achieved a remarkable level of luminosity and intimacy rarely matched by his contemporaries. Biographical information concerning Sheys is frustratingly sparse; however, verifiable records confirm his birth around 1788 in the United States, placing him squarely within the burgeoning artistic currents of early nineteenth-cent…