Artwork
Uncle Charles
Uncle Charles is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Charles Cromwell Ingham. It dates from 1844 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.91
- Credit line
- Gift of Gloria Manney, 2006
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified within The American Wing.
Uncle Charles is executed in watercolor on ivory, a miniature portrait technique combining translucent pigment washes with the smooth, luminous surface of an ivory support. The compact format, measuring approximately 10.5 by 8 units, is characteristic of small-scale keepsake portraits produced in the mid-nineteenth century, when watercolor on ivory allowed for delicate handling of facial features and subtle tonal modulation. The ivory ground lends a warm, reflective quality to the sitter's flesh tones, while the watercolor medium permits fine, controlled brushwork suited to detailed rendering of a male portrait.
The work is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, classified within The American Wing.
History & Provenance
Uncle Charles is a portrait executed in 1844 by the artist Charles Cromwell Ingham. Created using watercolor on ivory, the work measures 10.5 inches in height and 8 inches in width. The piece was produced during the mid-19th century, specifically dated to January 1, 1844.
It currently resides in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is housed within the American Wing. The artwork depicts a male subject and is classified as a portrait. No further details regarding the specific commission, the identity of the original patron, or the chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are provided in the available records.
Uncle Charles, a 1844 watercolor on ivory by Charles Cromwell Ingham, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. The work measures 10.5 by 8 (units as recorded in the source) and is catalogued as a portrait. No specific accession number, inventory code, or exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Charles Cromwell Ingham painted Uncle Charles in 1844, rendering this portrait in watercolor on ivory. The work depicts a man with a direct gaze, embodying the straightforward aesthetic often associated with American folk art. This intimate piece showcases the artist's skill in capturing individual likenesses within a small-scale format.
Context
Charles Cromwell Ingham, an Irish-American portraitist, created this work during a period of significant artistic development in the United States. His contributions extended beyond painting; Ingham was instrumental in the founding of the New York National Academy of Design. This institution played a crucial role in shaping American art education and exhibition practices during the 19th century, reflecting Ingham's commitment to the burgeoning art scene.
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.
