Artwork
James P. Smith
James P. Smith is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Jacob Eichholtz. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by unknown hand, on reverse, hidden by lining: Painted by / Jacob Eichholtz / 1835
About this work
James P. Smith sits in a chair in the dress of his day, books on the table behind him. Jacob Eichholtz noted the folds of the cloth and the props that hint at the man's life and interests. Oil on canvas, 1835.
Subject & Meaning
The depiction emphasizes the sitter’s presence through conventional composition and attire, underscoring his status within his community.
The painting portrays James P. Smith, a Philadelphia-born sitter active in the early to mid‑19th century, as indicated by provenance records that identify him as the subject and give his life dates as circa 1803‑1888. As a portrait by Jacob Eichholtz created in 1835, the work functions as a formal representation of an individual of respectable standing, typical of American portraiture of the period. The depiction emphasizes the sitter’s presence through conventional composition and attire, underscoring his status within his community. The piece is part of the National Gallery of Art’s collection, reflecting its recognized cultural significance.
Technique & Style
Created in 1835, the portrait of James P. Smith is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 75.5 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width, adhering to traditional conventions for formal portraiture of the period. Stylistically, the painting functions as a genre portrait, capturing the sitter with a focus on realistic representation typical of Jacob Eichholtz's practice.
The medium of oil on canvas allows for the detailed rendering of the subject's features and attire, characteristic of mid-19th-century American portraiture. No specific details regarding the painting's current physical condition, surface handling, or restoration history are provided in the available records, though the work remains part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection at the National Gallery of Art.
History & Provenance
Created in 1835 by Jacob Eichholtz, the oil-on-canvas portrait of James P. Smith depicts the sitter, whose birth is variously recorded as c. 1803 or 1804. The work remained in the sitter's possession in Philadelphia until his death, after which it was sold at an estate auction by Stan V. Henckels on December 14, 1920. It subsequently entered the collection of Thomas B. Clarke in New York.
Following Clarke's death, the painting was sold on January 29, 1936, through M. Knoedler & Co. to the A.W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh. It was finally transferred to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., as a gift from the trust in 1947, where it remains part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection.
Legacy
The portrait of James P. Smith by Jacob Eichholtz entered the National Gallery of Art in 1947 as part of the Andrew W. Mellon donation, a fact documented in both the collection record and provenance history. Its inclusion in major scholarly studies such as Dale T. Johnson’s catalogue of the Manney Collection and Rebecca J. Beal’s monograph on Eichholtz has reinforced its standing in the study of early American portraiture. The work’s attribution and depiction of a prominent Philadelphia figure have contributed to the broader appreciation of 19th‑century portraiture, influencing subsequent research on the genre.
Overview
Jacob Eichholtz created this oil on canvas portrait, titled James P. Smith, around 1835. The painting captures its namesake, an individual seated in a chair, offering a glimpse into early 19th-century portraiture. It exemplifies Eichholtz's approach to depicting prominent figures of his era, focusing on a direct and detailed representation of the sitter.
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