Artwork
Dr. Henry Nicolls Kitchin
Dr. Henry Nicolls Kitchin is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist James Peale. It dates from 1807 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.130
- Credit line
- Purchase, Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 2006
About this work
Technique & Style
The work, attributed to James Peale and dated 1807, is classified as a portrait and is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The portrait was executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a technique typical of early nineteenth‑century American portraiture. The work, attributed to James Peale and dated 1807, is classified as a portrait and is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its formal qualities reflect the restrained realism and delicate handling characteristic of Peale’s portraiture, while the ivory support provides a smooth, luminous ground that enhances the translucency of the watercolor medium.
History & Provenance
Dr. Henry Nicolls Kitchin is a portrait created by the American artist James Peale in 1807. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the work measures 7.1 by 5.8 centimeters, a small format favored for miniatures of this era. While the original patron is not detailed in the available records, the creation history is established by its attribution to Peale and its date of 1807.
The work is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is classified within The American Wing. The miniature depicts a male sitter and stands as a documented example of Peale's portraiture from this year.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory portrait, created by James Peale in 1807, depicts Dr. Henry Nicolls Kitchin. The artwork exemplifies American portraiture from the early 19th century, a period when capturing individual likenesses was a significant artistic function. Peale, recognized for his miniature works, rendered the subject with a detailed approach characteristic of the era and his particular skill in this small-scale format.
Subject & Meaning
Dr. Henry Nicolls Kitchin is presented seated, dressed in the fashion of the early 1800s. As a portrait, its fundamental purpose was to record and preserve the sitter's appearance, a common practice for individuals of means. The artist's careful attention to facial features and the intricate folds of the clothing aimed to convey not only a likeness but also a sense of the subject's personal presence.
Context
James Peale was a distinguished American painter, known for his contributions to both miniature painting and still life compositions. He was the younger sibling of Charles Willson Peale, a prominent figure in the development of American art. This portrait situates itself within the broader tradition of American portraiture, which was a flourishing genre for documenting individuals in the newly formed United States.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Peale (1749 – May 24, 1831) was an American painter, best known for his miniature and still life paintings, and a younger brother of noted painter Charles Willson Peale.
