Artwork
Joseph Anthony Jr.
Joseph Anthony Jr. is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As the main subject, Anthony is presented without auxiliary allegorical figures or complex symbolic attributes in the available records.
Executed in 1797 by Gilbert Stuart, this oil-on-canvas work functions as a formal portrait depicting Joseph Anthony Jr. The composition focuses exclusively on the likeness of the man, adhering to the conventions of late eighteenth-century American portraiture where the primary objective was the accurate representation of the sitter's visage and social standing. As the main subject, Anthony is presented without auxiliary allegorical figures or complex symbolic attributes in the available records. Consequently, the painting's meaning resides in its documentary role, serving as a visual record of the individual's identity rather than conveying a broader narrative or abstract concept through iconography.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1797 by Gilbert Stuart, this portrait of Joseph Anthony Jr. is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures approximately 76.2 cm in height and 62.2 cm in width. As a formal portrait, the piece focuses on the depiction of the male subject, adhering to the conventions of late eighteenth-century American portraiture found within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
The application of oil paint on a woven canvas support represents the standard medium for high-status likenesses of this period, allowing for the detailed rendering of the sitter's features and attire characteristic of Stuart's approach.
History & Provenance
Joseph Anthony Jr. is a 1797 oil‑on‑canvas portrait executed by Gilbert Stuart. The painting was created as a likeness of the eponymous gentleman and later entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is displayed in The American Wing. Its dimensions are 76.2 cm by 62.2 cm, and it remains part of the museum’s permanent holdings.
The work’s provenance traces from its execution by Stuart in the late 18th century to its acquisition by the Met, after which it has been catalogued under the genre of portrait and classified within the American Wing’s portrait series.
The portrait of Joseph Anthony Jr., painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1797, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work is classified within the museum's American Wing and is executed in oil on canvas. While the provided sources confirm the artwork's location and institutional home, they do not specify a unique inventory or accession number for this piece.
Furthermore, the available documentation lists the painting's creation date and physical dimensions but contains no record of its exhibition history or past public displays.
Legacy
The 1797 oil portrait of Joseph Anthony, Jr. by Gilbert Stuart is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s The American Wing, a placement that underscores its importance within the canon of early American portraiture. As a work by Stuart, one of the most celebrated portraitists of the period, the painting contributes to his enduring reputation as a master of American elite representation. Its inclusion in a major museum’s permanent collection has made it a reference point for scholarship on Federal-era portraiture, reinforcing the legacy of both the sitter and the artist.
Overview
This oil on canvas painting depicts Joseph Anthony Jr., a subject rendered with notable attention to detail. Created by Gilbert Stuart, a prominent American portraitist, the work is part of The American Wing collection. The composition focuses on the sitter, presenting him in a calm and serious demeanor, characteristic of portraiture from the period.
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.
