Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an ivory painting by the Neoclassicist artist J. Lecourt. It dates from 1810 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This small, round portrait, created by J.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, it functions to record the sitter's appearance and likely conveys social standing typical of early-nineteenth-century miniatures.
The work is a miniature portrait created in 1810 on ivory, depicting a male sitter. As a portrait, it functions to record the sitter's appearance and likely conveys social standing typical of early-nineteenth-century miniatures. The piece belongs to the genre of portraiture and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, having been exhibited in the show "European Miniatures in The Metropolitan Museum of Art."
Its material and format align with the conventions of ivory miniatures, emphasizing fine detail and a focus on the subject's presence.
Technique & Style
The work titled Portrait of a Man, executed by J. Lecourt in 1810, is a painting on an ivory support, classified as a portrait and listed among European miniatures, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection data. The piece portrays a man and has been displayed in the museum's exhibition of European miniatures, indicating its inclusion in scholarly presentations of early-nineteenth-century portrait miniatures. The artwork's formal qualities derive from the delicate rendering typical of ivory miniatures, though specific condition details are not provided in the source records.
History & Provenance
Created in 1810 by the artist J. Lecourt, this ivory portrait depicts a man. The work eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art through the bequest of Mrs. Louis V. Bell. Its exhibition history includes a showing in "European Miniatures in The Metropolitan Museum of Art."
While the specific original commissioner and the full chain of ownership prior to Mrs. Bell are not detailed in the available records, the piece is attributed to Lecourt and dated to the early nineteenth century.
The ivory portrait titled Portrait of a Man, created by J. Lecourt in 1810, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work entered the museum through the bequest of Mrs. Louis V. Bell and was included in the exhibition European Miniatures in The Metropolitan Museum of Art. The artwork is classified as a painting within the museum's holdings.
Context
Portrait of a Man, painted in 1810 on ivory, exemplifies early nineteenth-century portrait miniatures. Attributed to J. Lecourt, it is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection, donated by Mrs. Louis V. Bell, and was featured in the museum's European Miniatures exhibition. Its execution in ivory and depiction of a solitary male sitter reflect the material and stylistic conventions of portrait miniatures during this period.
Its inclusion in a major museum presentation highlights curatorial interest in the development of miniature portraiture within the broader European tradition.
Overview
This small, round portrait, created by J. Lecourt in 1810, depicts an unidentified man. Rendered on ivory, the artwork is part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection. Its intimate scale and precise execution are characteristic of miniature portraits produced during the early 19th century, often serving as personal mementos or tokens of affection.
Artist & collection
Artist
J. Lecourt painted delicate portraits on small ivory panels in early 19th-century France. His 1810 'Portrait of a Man' shows a face no bigger than a playing card, worked with fine brushes and steady patience. The ivory…
