Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist John Wood Dodge. It dates from 1833 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Executed in 1833, this portrait by John Wood Dodge is a watercolor work created on an ivory support.
Executed in 1833, this portrait by John Wood Dodge is a watercolor work created on an ivory support. The piece measures 6.7 cm in height and 5.5 cm in width, typical dimensions for the miniature format popular during the era. The artist utilized watercolor pigments to render the likeness of a man, a medium that allows for delicate tonal transitions and fine detail on the smooth, light-reflective surface of the ivory.
As a work classified within the American Wing, the painting demonstrates the technical precision associated with early 19th-century American miniature portraiture. The formal qualities focus on the depiction of a single male subject, relying on the translucency of the watercolor medium to achieve a lifelike representation without the heavy impasto often found in oil paintings.
History & Provenance
The work titled Portrait of a Gentleman was executed by American artist John Wood Dodge in 1833 as a watercolor on ivory, measuring approximately 6.7 cm by 5.5 cm. It belongs to the portrait genre and portrays a man, a subject recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue. The piece entered the museum’s collection and has remained in its custody, forming part of the American Wing’s holdings.
Overview
John Wood Dodge painted this Portrait of a Gentleman around 1833. Executed in watercolor on ivory, the miniature depicts an unidentified man. This work exemplifies a popular form of portraiture during the early 19th century, often created for personal keepsakes or as small, portable mementos. It is part of the American Wing collection.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a man dressed in the contemporary fashion of the 1830s, featuring a dark coat, a crisp white collar, and a prominent gold watch chain. His features are rendered with a smooth, idealized quality, characteristic of miniature portraiture that often aimed to present subjects in their most refined aspect. Such detailed depictions served as intimate personal records, capturing the likeness and social standing of the sitter.
Artist & collection
