Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Anson Dickinson. It dates from 1838 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.40
- Credit line
- Dale T. Johnson Fund, 2006
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The work depicts a seated gentleman rendered in watercolor on ivory, created by Anson Dickinson in 1838.
The work depicts a seated gentleman rendered in watercolor on ivory, created by Anson Dickinson in 1838. As a portrait classified within the American Wing’s portrait genre, it functions as a visual record of early‑American elite identity, emphasizing the sitter’s respectable status through conventional dress and composed pose. The composition follows contemporary portrait conventions that convey refinement and social standing, aligning with the genre’s purpose of documenting prominent individuals.
The painting’s inclusion in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection underscores its historical significance as an example of American portraiture from the 1830s.
Technique & Style
Anson Dickinson executed this 1838 miniature portrait in watercolor on ivory, a support and medium characteristic of American miniature painting in the early nineteenth century. The work measures 7.7 by 6.4 centimeters, a scale typical of the intimate portrait miniatures designed for personal possession. The watercolor technique on ivory allows for fine detail and luminous color effects, with the smooth, non-absorbent surface of the ivory enabling precise brushwork and subtle tonal gradations.
Dickinson's handling reflects the conventions of the period's miniature tradition, emphasizing clarity of form and delicate rendering of facial features.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory painted by American miniaturist Anson Dickinson in 1838. The work, classified as a portrait within The American Wing, entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it remains on view. Its creation history is documented through Dickinson’s specialization in miniature portraiture and the museum’s cataloging of the piece as part of its American paintings holdings.
The painting measures 7.7 × 6.4 cm and depicts an unidentified man, reflecting the sitter’s status as a gentleman of the period. Provenance records indicate continuous ownership by the Met since acquisition, establishing its current location and institutional stewardship.
Overview
Anson Dickinson’s Portrait of a Gentleman, completed in 1838, showcases the artist's proficiency in miniature painting. Executed with watercolor on ivory, this small, circular artwork captures the likeness of a formally attired man. It is representative of 19th-century American folk art, a field in which Dickinson earned recognition during his lifetime, although his broader reputation has since receded.
Artist & collection
Artist
Anson Dickinson (19 April 1779 – 9 March 1852) was an American painter of miniature portraits who achieved fame during his lifetime, producing a very large number of works, but who is now largely forgotten.
