Artwork
Portrait of Genio C. Scott
Portrait of Genio C. Scott is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Eastman Johnson. It dates from 1859 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The image functions as a visual record of an individual subject, reflecting contemporary artistic practices in representing personal identity.
The painting titled Portrait of Genio C. Scott, executed by Eastman Johnson in 1859, portrays the sitter identified as Genio C. Scott. Rendered in oil on canvas, the work exemplifies the portrait genre and measures 102.3 cm by 127.0 cm. It entered the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it remains on view, underscoring the institution’s holdings of mid‑nineteenth‑century American portraiture. The image functions as a visual record of an individual subject, reflecting contemporary artistic practices in representing personal identity.
Technique & Style
The portrait of Genio C. Scott is executed in oil paint on canvas, a standard medium for mid-nineteenth-century American portraiture. The work measures 102.3 cm in height by 127.0 cm in width. Classified as a painting within the portrait genre, it was produced by Eastman Johnson in 1859 in the United States and is now held by the Cleveland Museum of Art.
The painting reflects the conventions of Johnson's portrait practice during this period, when he worked primarily in oil to achieve naturalistic flesh tones and detailed rendering of fabric and facial features, consistent with his commissioned portraits of the late 1850s.
History & Provenance
The portrait was painted by Eastman Johnson in 1859, as indicated by the artist’s date and the Cleveland Museum of Art’s accession record. The work entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings in 1965 as accession number 1965.475, where it remains in the collection. No record of a commission or early ownership history prior to the museum’s acquisition is provided in the cited sources. The available records do not list a documented loan or special-exhibition history for the piece.
Overview
Eastman Johnson completed this oil painting, "Portrait of Genio C. Scott," in 1859. The work depicts a bearded man in a dark suit, seated at a table within what appears to be a studio space. This piece is part of the American folk art movement and is housed in the collection of The Cleveland Museum of Art. It offers a glimpse into a moment of quiet contemplation or creative activity.
Context
Eastman Johnson, the creator of this portrait, was a prominent American artist recognized for his genre scenes and depictions of both ordinary individuals and notable figures. His later artistic development was notably shaped by the influence of 17th-century Dutch masters. Beyond his painting career, Johnson also played a significant role in the establishment of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, underscoring his impact on American art institutions.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Jonathan Eastman Johnson (July 29, 1824 – April 5, 1906) was an American painter and co-founder of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York City, with his name inscribed at its entrance.
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