Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the British Romanticist artist Alfred S. Waugh. It dates from 1841 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Alfred S.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject’s straightforward gaze and dignified bearing suggest an emphasis on propriety and civic virtue, themes often associated with portraiture of the era.
The work portrays an unidentified male sitter, presenting him as a gentleman of respectable standing in early‑19th‑century America. As a formal portrait classified within The American Wing, the image functions to convey social status and personal identity through conventional poses and attire typical of the period. The subject’s straightforward gaze and dignified bearing suggest an emphasis on propriety and civic virtue, themes often associated with portraiture of the era.
The painting’s inclusion in a major museum collection underscores its historical relevance as an example of early American portraiture and the cultural values it encapsulated.
Technique & Style
Portrait of a Gentleman is executed in watercolor on ivory, a miniature portrait technique that combines translucent watercolor washes with the smooth, luminous surface of an ivory support. The work measures approximately 7 by 5.6 centimeters, a small scale characteristic of portable keepsake portraits produced in the early nineteenth century. The ivory ground provides a reflective, enamel-like quality that enhances the delicacy of the watercolor medium, allowing for fine detail and subtle tonal gradations in the sitter's features.
Such handling is typical of mid-nineteenth-century American miniature practice, in which artists exploited ivory's natural translucency to achieve lifelike flesh tones and refined finish. No condition notes are documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Gentleman was created in 1841 by the American artist Alfred S. Waugh, executed as a watercolor on ivory. The work entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is displayed in the museum’s American Wing. No earlier ownership records or commission details are provided in the available sources, but the painting’s inception date and current institutional provenance are documented.
The watercolor portrait titled Portrait of a Gentleman, created by Alfred S. Waugh in 1841, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified under the museum's American Wing. While the provided records confirm its location and institutional ownership, they do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece.
Additionally, the available documentation does not list any specific exhibition history for the artwork. The piece, measuring 7 inches in height and 5.6 inches in width, remains part of the museum's permanent holdings as a portrait depicting a man.
Overview
Alfred S. Waugh's "Portrait of a Gentleman," created in 1841, is a watercolor on ivory. This work presents a male sitter, depicted with a direct gaze, in a style characteristic of American portraiture from the period. The miniature scale and specific medium reflect a particular tradition of intimate and finely detailed artistic expression.
Context
During the early 19th century, while larger oil paintings were prevalent, miniature watercolor portraits on ivory held a significant place, often serving as cherished personal mementos. The choice of this delicate and expensive medium for "Portrait of a Gentleman" positions it within a tradition of intimate, finely detailed works, frequently associated with American portraiture of the period.
Artist & collection
