Portrait of Sir Hiram S. Maxim
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
1884
From the collection of Cleveland Museum of Art
Portrait of Sir Hiram S. Maxim is a 1884 by Alphonse Legros, a Impressionism work, held at Cleveland Museum of Art.
This is a black-and-white portrait of an older man with a full beard and mustache. His hair is wavy and gray, and he’s wearing a collared shirt with a plaid pattern. The drawing is simple but precise, focusing on his face and upper chest. The artist used soft shading to show light and shadow, giving the portrait a gentle look. This style was common in the late 1800s. Look up sfumato next to see how artists like this used smooth transitions between tones.
