Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Edward S. Dodge. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.47
- Credit line
- Gift of Gloria Manney, 2006
About this work
Technique & Style
9 centimeters in width, dimensions typical for intimate portrait formats intended for close viewing.
Created in 1845 by Edward S. Dodge, this portrait is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a medium favored for its luminous and delicate qualities in mid-nineteenth-century miniature painting. The work measures 8.2 centimeters in height and 6.9 centimeters in width, dimensions typical for intimate portrait formats intended for close viewing. The artist's handling of the watercolor on the ivory ground allows for subtle gradations of tone, characteristic of the genre's focus on capturing the likeness and presence of the sitter.
As a formal study, the piece relies on the translucency of the watercolor to interact with the ivory's surface, creating a soft, refined aesthetic that defines the stylistic approach of Dodge's portraiture during this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1845, this watercolor on ivory portrait was executed by the artist Edward S. Dodge. The work depicts a male subject and is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under the American Wing. The museum accessioned the piece in 2006 under the inventory number 2006.235.47.
While the specific original commissioner and the full chain of prior ownership are not detailed in the available records, the work's inception is firmly established as 1845, and its physical dimensions are recorded as 8.2 by 6.9 centimeters.
The watercolor on ivory titled Portrait of a Gentleman, created by Edward S. Dodge in 1845, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified within the museum's American Wing and bears the accession number 2006.235.47. While the source material confirms the artwork's location in New York and its specific inventory identifier, it does not provide details regarding a history of exhibitions or loan records for this specific portrait.
The piece measures 8.2 by 6.9 centimeters and depicts a male subject, consistent with its genre classification as a portrait.
Context
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory by Edward S. Dodge, created in 1845. The work measures approximately 8.2 × 6.9 cm and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s American Wing, where it is classified as a portrait depicting a man. It appears in the museum’s collection records (accession 2006.235.47) and is discussed in museum documentation as an example of mid‑century American portraiture, situating Dodge’s practice within the broader development of 19th‑century American art.
Overview
This small watercolor, titled Portrait of a Gentleman, was created by Edward S. Dodge around 1845. It presents a male sitter, depicted in a dark coat and white shirt, engaging the viewer directly with his gaze. The artwork exemplifies the intimate scale and detailed execution characteristic of miniature portraits from the mid-19th century, a popular format for personal keepsakes and mementos during that era.
Artist & collection
