Artwork
Dr. Alvah Cook
Dr. Alvah Cook is an oil painting. It dates from 1820 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. The work is an oil painting on a wooden panel portraying a seated gentleman dressed in a dark coat and white cravat.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:lower left: A. C
About this work
Technique & Style
Created in 1820, this portrait is executed in oil paint applied to a wood support. The work measures 18.7 cm in height and 15.7 cm in width. Classified as a portrait, the painting reflects the stylistic conventions of an American artist active in the early nineteenth century. The medium and support indicate a traditional approach to portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
Specific exhibition records for the piece are not detailed in the available documentation, and it is cataloged within the institution's paintings department.
Created in 1820, this oil-on-wood portrait originates from Vermont. It was purchased in 1952 by Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who donated it three years later, in 1955, to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it remains part of the permanent collection. Specific exhibition records for the piece are not detailed in the available documentation, and it is cataloged within the institution's paintings department.
Overview
The work is an oil painting on a wooden panel portraying a seated gentleman dressed in a dark coat and white cravat. He gazes directly at the viewer, set against a backdrop that includes a shelf of red‑spined books and a red curtain. The composition is compact, with the figure occupying the central space and the surrounding elements framing him.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Dr. Alvah Cook, is presented in a formal manner typical of early nineteenth‑century portraiture, emphasizing his professional status through the scholarly setting of books. The direct eye contact and upright posture convey confidence and authority, while the modest attire suggests a balance between personal modesty and public respectability.
Context
Created in the early 1800s, the portrait reflects prevailing conventions of academic portraiture in America, where scholars and physicians were often depicted amid symbols of learning. The inclusion of a bookcase and curtain aligns with contemporary visual codes that linked intellectual achievement to personal identity.
Artist & collection
