Artwork
George Wood
George Wood is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Benjamin Trott. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, the piece serves to commemorate the subject's likeness, suggesting notions of personal status and character typical of the genre at the time.
The work is an 1815 watercolor portrait that presents a male sitter, functioning as a conventional representation of an individual's appearance and social identity in early-American art. As a portrait, the piece serves to commemorate the subject's likeness, suggesting notions of personal status and character typical of the genre at the time. The depiction aligns with the classification of the work within the American Wing's portrait genre, indicating its role as a formal yet intimate record of the sitter's presence.
The painting's modest dimensions and medium further emphasize the intimate nature of early portraiture aimed at personal rather than public display.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, as recorded in the catalog entry. Measuring roughly 7.3 × 6 cm, it depicts a male sitter in a conventional portrait pose, reflecting the portrait genre. The composition and rendering demonstrate a realistic treatment of facial features and attire, characteristic of American portraiture of the period.
As part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the piece exemplifies Benjamin Trott's handling of delicate watercolor pigments on a smooth ivory ground, producing a finely detailed yet modestly scaled image.
History & Provenance
The portrait of George Wood was created in 1815 by the American artist Benjamin Trott. Executed as a watercolor on ivory, the work measures 7.3 by 6 centimeters. While the specific commissioning details and the immediate chain of ownership prior to its current home are not detailed in the available records, the painting is attributed to Trott and dated to the early nineteenth century.
The artwork is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified within The American Wing, depicting a male subject in the miniature format popular during the era.
George Wood is catalogued as a watercolor on ivory portrait by Benjamin Trott, dated 1815, with recorded dimensions of 7.3 by 6 centimeters. No accession number, credit line, or specific exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Benjamin Trott created George Wood, a portrait miniature, around 1815. This small-scale work, executed in watercolor on ivory, exemplifies the American folk art tradition. It captures the likeness of a man, reflecting the popular genre of personal portraits during the early 19th century. The piece is part of the American Wing collection, showcasing the period's approach to intimate portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Benjamin Trott (c. 1770, in Boston – 27 November 1843, in Baltimore) was an American painter who specialized in portrait miniatures.
