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John Cheney

Seth Wells Cheney

1834

charcoal

paper

From the collection of National Gallery of Art

Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

John Cheney is a 1834 charcoal by Seth Wells Cheney, a Romanticism work, held at National Gallery of Art.

Who painted this?: Seth Wells Cheney
When & what style?: 1834 · Romanticism
Where can I see it?: National Gallery of Art

About this work

This sketch shows a person’s face and shoulders, drawn in soft charcoal. The person wears a high collar with a bow tie, and their hair is pulled back neatly. The background is plain, with just a faint outline of a chair or ledge below. The artist used quick, sketchy lines to suggest texture—like in the fur collar or the hair—without filling in every detail. This style keeps it looking rough and alive, not polished. Look up scumbling next to see how artists create soft, blended effects like this.