Artwork
Boy in Blue
Boy in Blue is an oil painting. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is an oil painting on canvas depicting a youthful figure positioned centrally.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted in 1825 by an unidentified American artist of the 19th century, the image focuses on the sitter's likeness rather than an elaborate narrative scene.
The work is a portrait depicting a young male figure, identified by the title as a boy. Painted in 1825 by an unidentified American artist of the 19th century, the image focuses on the sitter's likeness rather than an elaborate narrative scene. The subject is dressed in blue, which serves as the primary visual identifier of the composition.
The painting does not contain explicit symbolic elements or iconographic programs described in available records; its meaning is derived principally from its function as a formal portrait of the early 19th century.
Technique & Style
Created in 1825 by an unidentified American artist of the 19th century, Boy in Blue is an oil painting executed on a canvas support. The work measures 111.4 cm in height and 70.5 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the piece utilizes oil paint to render its subject, adhering to the traditional medium and support conventions of early 19th-century American portraiture. The painting is currently held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C.
History & Provenance
The painting, titled Boy in Blue, was created in 1825 by an American artist active during the 19th century. Executed in oil on canvas, the work measures 111.4 cm in height and 70.5 cm in width. Its provenance traces back to Pennsylvania, where it was recorded prior to entering the modern collection market.
The piece was acquired in 1951 by the collectors Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch. They subsequently gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1953, where it remains part of the permanent collection.
Before the Garbisch acquisition, the portrait was recorded as originating from Pennsylvania. No specific exhibition history or inventory accession numbers for the work are provided in the available records.
Overview
The work is an oil painting on canvas depicting a youthful figure positioned centrally. He holds a small red book in his left hand, wears a dark blue garment adorned with gold buttons and a white collar, and stands upon a rug featuring geometric motifs in green, orange, and yellow. The background is a uniform dark tone, emphasizing the figure’s attire and posture.
Context
The composition reflects a focus on individual portraiture common in the late 18th to early 19th centuries, where personal identity and status were often highlighted through attire and accessories. The plain background aligns with a stylistic tendency to isolate the sitter for visual impact.
Artist & collection
