Artwork
Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779)
Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779) is an oil painting by the Rococo painting artist Enoch Seeman. It dates from 1737 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Painted in 1737 by Enoch Seeman, this oil-on-canvas work functions as a formal portrait of Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779).
Painted in 1737 by Enoch Seeman, this oil-on-canvas work functions as a formal portrait of Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779). The composition centers entirely on the sitter, depicting him as a man of status within the context of his era. While specific symbolic attributes or allegorical figures are not detailed in the available records, the inclusion of Kirtlington Park in the depiction serves as a crucial iconographic element, visually anchoring Dashwood's identity to his family estate and landownership.
As a genre portrait, the work primarily represents the individual's social standing and personal likeness rather than conveying a complex narrative or mythological meaning. The sheer scale of the canvas further emphasizes the subject's prominence, presenting Dashwood not merely as an individual but as the embodiment of his lineage and property.
Technique & Style
The portrait Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779) is an oil painting executed on canvas, as indicated by the material description in the record. The work measures roughly 243.8 cm in height and 153 cm in width, reflecting a full‑length format typical of 18th‑century portraiture. Executed by Enoch Seeman in 1737, the piece employs oil paint to render fine detailing and subtle modelling of the sitter’s features, characteristic of contemporary portrait technique.
The painting is classified as a portrait and depicts James Dashwood within the setting of Kirtlington Park, emphasizing status and lineage. No specific information regarding its present condition is provided in the source material.
History & Provenance
The 1737 oil portrait of Sir James Dashwood by Enoch Seeman is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. The work depicts Dashwood in relation to Kirtlington Park and is executed in oil on canvas, measuring 243.8 cm in height and 153 cm in width. While the painting is part of the museum's permanent holdings, the provided sources do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for the piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation does not contain records of specific exhibitions in which this portrait has been featured, limiting the historical account to its current institutional location and physical attributes.
Overview
Created in 1737 by the British painter Enoch Seeman the Younger, Sir James Dashwood (1715–1779) is an oil portrait of the English gentleman James Dashwood. This work exemplifies early Georgian-era portraiture and is characterized by its Rococo sensibilities. The painting is presently part of the collection at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, offering a glimpse into 18th-century British society through its subject.
Artist & collection
Artist
Enoch Seeman the Younger (c. 1689 – April 1745) was a British painter who was active during the first half of the Georgian era. He was born into a family of painters in Gdańsk, Poland.
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