Artwork
Thomas Mifflin
Thomas Mifflin is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist John Trumbull. It dates from 1790 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting's formal qualities include a restrained palette, precise brushwork, and a composition that emphasizes the sitter's dignified posture.
The portrait Thomas Mifflin, painted by John Trumbull in 1790, is executed in oil on a mahogany panel, a support typical of late-18th-century American portraiture. The work measures approximately 8.9 cm in height by 7.1 cm in width and is catalogued in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing collection. It belongs to the portrait genre and depicts a male sitter, reflecting Trumbull's skill in realistic likeness and chiaroscuro modeling.
The painting's formal qualities include a restrained palette, precise brushwork, and a composition that emphasizes the sitter's dignified posture.
History & Provenance
The portrait of Thomas Mifflin was created by John Trumbull in 1790. Executed in oil on a mahogany support, the work measures 8.9 cm in height and 7.1 cm in width. While the specific commission details or original ownership chain are not detailed in the available records, the painting has been held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The artwork is currently classified within the museum's American Wing collection. The piece depicts a male subject and is categorized as a portrait genre work.
Context
John Trumbull painted Thomas Mifflin in 1790, an oil portrait on mahogany measuring roughly 8.9 by 7.1 centimeters. The work is catalogued as a portrait depicting a man and is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's The American Wing, where it is classified under the portrait genre. Its inclusion in the collection underscores its relevance to the study of early American portraiture and provides a tangible example of Trumbull's output during the formative period of United States art.
Overview
John Trumbull, a painter and veteran of the American Revolutionary War, created this oil portrait of Thomas Mifflin around 1790. Executed on mahogany, the work exemplifies the restrained Neoclassical style popular during the nascent years of the United States. It captures Mifflin, a significant figure from the revolutionary era, with a directness characteristic of Trumbull’s approach to depicting prominent individuals of his time.
Subject & Meaning
This portrait presents Thomas Mifflin, a general during the Revolutionary War and Pennsylvania's inaugural governor. Trumbull portrays him with a steady, direct gaze, his hand resting calmly on a table. The composition employs a plain background, eliminating distractions to emphasize Mifflin's presence and convey a sense of quiet resolve, reflecting the era's values as the new nation established its identity.
Artist & collection
Artist
John Trumbull (June 6, 1756 – November 10, 1843) was an American painter and military officer best known for his historical paintings of the American Revolutionary War, of which he was a veteran.
