Artwork
James G. McKinney
James G. McKinney is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Matthew Harris Jouett. It dates from 1813 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
To learn more about the artist behind this work, explore the portfolio of Matthew Harris Jouett (American, 1787/88–1827).
This portrait features a man with dark, wavy hair and a serious expression. He is dressed in a black jacket over a white shirt with a high collar and a white bow tie. The background is a solid brown color.
The subject's attire and hairstyle suggest a formal setting, likely from the early 19th century. The artist's use of oil paint creates a sense of depth and texture in the image.
To learn more about the artist behind this work, explore the portfolio of Matthew Harris Jouett (American, 1787/88–1827).
Technique & Style
The portrait is painted in oil on canvas, executed in a fluid, linear manner characteristic of early-19th-century American portraiture. Jouett’s handling emphasizes clear delineation of facial features and costume, with smooth transitions in the modeling of flesh and restrained chiaroscuro. The sitter’s high collar and cravat are rendered with crisp edges, while the coat’s folds are indicated by delicate, parallel brushwork rather than heavy impasto.
The background is softly modulated to avoid distraction, ensuring the figure remains the focal point. No evidence of significant alteration or damage is recorded in the source data, indicating the painting’s condition is stable.
History & Provenance
The portrait of James G. McKinney was painted in 1813 by Matthew Harris Jouett, a Kentucky-born artist active in the early American Republic.
It entered the Cleveland Museum of Art in 1916 as a gift of the Hanna Fund, following an acquisition from a private collection in Ohio. The museum records list the work as accession number 1916.903, with dimensions of 64.7 cm in height and 52.0 cm in width.
The portrait of James G. McKinney is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art in Cleveland, United States. The work, an oil painting on canvas created in 1813, bears the accession number 1916.903 within the museum's records. No exhibition history is provided in the available sources.
Context
James G. McKinney (1787/88–1827) was a Kentucky-born merchant and political figure who served as mayor of Lexington and represented the region in the U.S. House of Representatives during the early 19th century. His portrait by Matthew Harris Jouett, created in 1813, exemplifies early American neoclassical portraiture and reflects the social prominence of Kentucky's political elite. The work is held in the Cleveland Museum of Art, where it is recognized as part of their collection of early American paintings.
Scholars have noted Jouett's role in adapting Thomas Sully's style to regional subjects, situating this portrait within broader discussions of early American identity and artistic development.
Overview
Created in 1813, this oil portrait by Matthew Harris Jouett depicts James G. McKinney, a gentleman of the early nineteenth century. The composition presents the sitter in a plain, unadorned manner typical of American folk portraiture of the period. The work resides in the permanent collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The figure is shown with dark, wavy hair and a solemn expression, dressed in a black jacket, white high‑collared shirt, and a white bow tie. The attire and hairstyle indicate a formal, possibly civic, setting, reflecting the social status and propriety expected of a man of his standing in the early 1800s.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Matthew Harris Jouett (Mercer County, Kentucky, 22 April 1788 – Lexington, Kentucky, 10 August 1827) was a noted American portrait painter, famous for painting portraits including Thomas Jefferson, George Rogers Clark and Lafayette.
