Who painted Charles Keene as a Volunteer?

Charles Keene as a Volunteer was painted by Charles Samuel Keene in 1866.

Where can I see Charles Keene as a Volunteer?

Charles Keene as a Volunteer is held by Cleveland Museum of Art.

What movement is Charles Keene as a Volunteer?

Charles Keene as a Volunteer is associated with Romanticism.

Artwork

Charles Keene as a Volunteer

Charles Samuel Keene , 1866

Charles Keene as a Volunteer is a drawing by the Romanticist artist Charles Samuel Keene. It dates from 1866 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Accession no.: 1924.627
Credit line: Dudley P. Allen Fund

About this work

Overview

Charles Samuel Keke’s 1866 drawing titled Charles Keene as a Volunteer is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a single figure in a military outfit, rendered with careful attention to light and shadow, and occupies a modest compositional space that foregrounds the sitter’s demeanor.

Subject & Meaning

The drawing shows a man in a uniform, seated with his right leg crossed over his left. He wears a cap, a long‑sleeved shirt, trousers, and a belt, while his right hand rests on his thigh and his left hand lies on the chair’s armrest. His serious expression meets the viewer’s gaze, suggesting a straightforward, perhaps self‑portrait or character study of a volunteer soldier.

Technique & Style

Keene employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using a light background to isolate the sitter and enhance the contrast between illuminated planes and deeper shadows. The handling of line and tone gives the drawing a sense of three‑dimensionality, while the restrained palette underscores the formal, almost documentary quality of the portrait.

History & Provenance

Created in 1866, the drawing entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on view. Its provenance is limited to the museum’s acquisition records, and no further exhibition history is documented in the available sources.