Artwork
Henry Rice
Henry Rice is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The portrait shows Henry Rice, rendered in oil on wood by Gilbert Stuart in 1815. It is classified as a portrait within the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The composition presents Rice bust-length in formal attire, in keeping with Stuart's portrait practice of the period.
As a work by Stuart, a leading portraitist of the era, the image functions as a likeness of its sitter.
Technique & Style
The composition centers on Rice's bust-length figure, framed against a neutral background that directs attention to the sitter's expression and attire.
Gilbert Stuart's 1815 portrait of Henry Rice is rendered in oil on a wood panel, a support consistent with Stuart's practice during this period. The composition centers on Rice's bust-length figure, framed against a neutral background that directs attention to the sitter's expression and attire. The handling reflects Stuart's characteristic naturalism in the rendering of the face. Specific details of the painting's condition are not documented in the available records.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Henry Rice was created in 1815 by the American artist Gilbert Stuart. Executed in oil on a wood panel, the work measures 67.3 centimeters in height and 54.6 centimeters in width. While the specific commissioning details and the initial chain of ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the available records, the painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is recorded with the accession number 1975.1.156 and classified within the American Wing.
The work entered the museum's holdings in 1975. It has not been recorded in any subsequent exhibition history within the provided sources.
Overview
The portrait of Henry Rice, rendered in oil on wood, depicts a seated man from the early 19th century. Part of the American Wing collection, this painting offers a direct gaze from its subject, characteristic of the period's portraiture. The artist meticulously captured the details of Rice's attire and facial features, providing insight into contemporary fashion and individual presentation.
Context
This portrait exemplifies the stylistic trends common in American art during the early 1800s. The directness of the gaze and the emphasis on individual likeness were hallmarks of the era's portraiture. For a broader understanding of this artistic current and its prominent practitioners, the work of artists such as Gilbert Stuart provides a valuable comparison.
Artist & collection
Artist
Gilbert Stuart (né Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.
