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Portrait of a Man

Washington Allston

1810

graphite

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait Profile

Dominant colour

Portrait of a Man is a 1810 graphite by Washington Allston, a Romanticism work, depicting Profile, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Washington Allston
When & what style?: 1810 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This is a pencil drawing of a young man with wavy hair, looking slightly to the side. His face is softly shaded, with no sharp lines—just gentle smudges where the light fades into shadow. Allston made this in Rome, where he lived for years. He was one of the first American artists to study there, and this sketch feels different from the stiff portraits back home. The way he blends the graphite—almost like smoke—gives the face a quiet, dreamy look. It’s not a finished painting, just a quick study, but the mood feels intentional. If you like this, look up the technique sfumato.