Artwork
Noah Webster
Noah Webster is a pastel drawing by the Romanticist artist James Sharples. It dates from 1751 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
This pastel portrait on light grey wove paper, lined with canvas, is a depiction of Noah Webster, the renowned lexicographer who authored America’s first dictionary.
Subject & Meaning
The subject, Noah Webster, is prominently featured with his face filling the sheet. His sharp eyes and wiry eyebrows are notable facial characteristics. The portrait conveys an informal, spontaneous likeness, distinct from traditional formal poses.
Technique & Style
Executed in pastel, the work showcases the medium’s capacity for soft yet precise rendering. The style reflects the practicality of the Sharples family’s traveling pastel studio, which offered quick and affordable portraits as an alternative to oil paintings.
History & Provenance
Created in 1751 by James Sharples, part of a family known for their itinerant pastel portrait studio. The artwork is currently part of The American Wing collection.
Context
The portrait exemplifies the accessibility of pastel portraits in the 18th century, catering to individuals who could not afford the time or cost associated with sittings for oil paintings.
Artist & collection
Artist
James Sharples (1751 or 1752, in Lancashire – 26 February 1811, in New York City) was an English portrait painter and pastelist, who moved to the United States in 1794. He first exhibited at the Royal Academy in 1779.
