Artwork
William Clark Frazer
William Clark Frazer is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Jacob Eichholtz. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
- Inscription
- Inscribed:by unknown hand, on reverse, hidden by lining: William Clarke [sic] Frazier [sic] / Counsellor at Law / painted in the year 1835. / AE.T.57 Years 4 mo & 29 days / -Eichholtz- / Ex----
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition reflects contemporary ideals of refinement and familial continuity among the American upper class of the young nation.
The portrait shows William Clark Frazer, a member of a prominent Lancaster family, rendered in the restrained, neoclassical manner characteristic of early 19th-century American portraiture. The sitter is depicted with dignity, in keeping with the period's conventions for conveying social standing and moral character. The composition reflects contemporary ideals of refinement and familial continuity among the American upper class of the young nation.
Technique & Style
The work is executed in oil on canvas. Paint application and surface handling reflect the conventions of early 19th-century American portraiture, with fine detail and smooth tonal transitions characteristic of Jacob Eichholtz's technique. The composition exhibits formal balance and restrained stylistic flourishes, aligning with neoclassical conventions of the period.
These attributes contribute to the painting's refined and realistic aesthetic, emphasizing clarity of form and precision in the rendering of facial features and drapery.
History & Provenance
Jacob Eichholtz painted William Clark Frazer in 1830. The work descended through the Frazer family, passing from the sitter to his son Reah Frazer and then to his granddaughter Susan Carpenter Frazer before being sold in March 1923 to Thomas B. Clarke of New York. From Clarke's estate it passed through M. Knoedler & Co. in 1936 to the A. W. Mellon Educational and Charitable Trust, Pittsburgh, and was given to the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., in 1947, where it forms part of the Andrew W. Mellon Collection. An earlier reference appears in the 1928 Clarke exhibition catalogue.
Context
Jacob Eichholtz created this portrait in 1830, depicting William Clark Frazer, a member of a prominent Lancaster family. The painting remained with the Frazers for two generations before being sold in 1923 to the American collector Thomas B. Clarke. It later entered the National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C., as part of the Andrew W. Mellon Collection in 1947.
The work is recognized as a significant example of early 19th-century American portraiture, reflecting the cultural and social milieu of the Frazer family within Pennsylvania's elite society.
Overview
Jacob Eichholtz’s portrait of William Clark Frazer, executed in oil on canvas around 1830, presents a solitary figure in a restrained composition. The sitter is rendered in a dark coat and white cravat, set against an unadorned, shadowy backdrop that directs attention to his visage.
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