Artwork
Henry W. Houston
Henry W. Houston is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Elias V. Coe. It dates from 1837 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art. Elias V.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:on reverse (no longer visible, photo in object file [1957.11.6] in NGA curatorial records): Henry W. Houston / AE 46 / Painted by E. V Coe / 1837.
About this work
Technique & Style
As a portrait, the painting’s formal qualities reflect mid‑19th‑century conventions of likeness and composition.
Henry W. Houston is an oil painting on canvas created in 1837 (inception 1837‑01‑01). The work measures 71.3 cm in height by 55.9 cm in width and depicts the sitter Henry W. Houston. Executed in oil paint on a canvas support, the piece belongs to the portrait genre;.
It entered the National Gallery of Art’s collection through the 1950 purchase by Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who later gifted the work to the museum in 1957. As a portrait, the painting’s formal qualities reflect mid‑19th‑century conventions of likeness and composition.
History & Provenance
Elias V. Coe painted the portrait Henry W. Houston in 1837, an oil on canvas work measuring 71.3 × 55.9 cm. The painting remained in New Jersey until 1950, when Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch acquired it. The couple later donated the portrait to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., where it entered the collection in 1957. Its provenance is documented through these transactions, and the work is catalogued in the National Gallery’s holdings as a 19th‑century portrait.
The portrait is held at the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., accessioned as 1957.1.3 after its acquisition history. It entered the Gallery’s collection as a gift in 1957 from Edgar William and Bernice Chrysler Garbisch, who had purchased the work in 1950. The painting’s provenance traces its earlier location to New Jersey.
Overview
Elias V. Coe's 1837 oil painting, Henry W. Houston, presents a formal portrait of its namesake. The work captures a seated figure, rendered with a direct gaze and composed posture, characteristic of portraiture from the era. Executed in oil on canvas, the artwork provides a visual record of an individual from the early 19th century, reflecting the prevailing artistic conventions of the time.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait features Henry W. Houston seated, his attire reflecting the fashion of the period. His direct gaze towards the viewer and hands resting calmly on the chair's armrests convey a sense of composure and gravity. This deliberate presentation suggests a desire to portray the sitter with dignity and seriousness, inviting contemplation about his character and public persona as perceived in 1837.
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