Artwork
Benjamin Moore McVickar
Benjamin Moore McVickar is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Charles Cromwell Ingham. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition centers entirely on the figure, emphasizing personal identity over broader symbolic meanings often found in history painting or religious art.
Executed in 1825 by Charles Cromwell Ingham, this watercolor on ivory functions as a formal portrait depicting Benjamin Moore McVickar. The work's primary subject is the man himself, presented within the conventions of early nineteenth-century portraiture. As a genre piece focused on individual likeness, the iconography is straightforward, aiming to capture the physical appearance and presence of the sitter rather than employing complex allegorical symbols or narrative scenes.
The representation serves as a historical record of McVickar's visage, preserved through the intimate medium of ivory miniature painting. The composition centers entirely on the figure, emphasizing personal identity over broader symbolic meanings often found in history painting or religious art.
Technique & Style
Executed in watercolor on an ivory support, the work measures roughly 8.1 × 8.1 inches and dates to 1825. It belongs to the portrait genre and portrays Benjamin Moore McVickar, a male sitter, within the American Wing’s collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The medium emphasizes delicate washes typical of early‑American portraiture, while the ivory surface provides a smooth, luminous ground that enhances fine detail.
As a portrait, the composition follows conventional formal conventions of the period, presenting the subject in a straightforward, dignified manner.
Overview
Benjamin Moore McVickar is a miniature portrait created by Charles Cromwell Ingham around 1825. Executed in watercolor on ivory, this small-scale work captures the likeness of its subject, a man in a dark coat holding a book. Such portraits served as personal mementos during the early 19th century, often carried by their owners. Ingham, an Irish-American artist, was a notable figure in the burgeoning New York art scene.
History & Provenance
Charles Cromwell Ingham, the artist, was born in Ireland in either 1796 or 1797 before immigrating to America. He established himself as a portrait painter and played a significant role in the development of American art institutions. Ingham was a co-founder of the National Academy of Design in New York, an organization that remains influential in promoting the arts.
Artist & collection
Artist
Charles Cromwell Ingham (1796 or 1797 – 10 December 1863) was an Irish-American portrait painter and later a founder of the New York National Academy of Design.
