Artwork
Reynold Keen
Reynold Keen is an oil painting by the Academic Art artist Matthew Pratt. It dates from 1769 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
A young man in a dark coat turns his face to the side, his hair powdered white, his look calm. Matthew Pratt painted it in America in 1769, soon after returning from training in Europe, making it one of the earliest professional colonial portraits. Light falls simply on his cheek, the focus held on the man.
Technique & Style
The application of oil medium on the canvas allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of Matthew Pratt's portraiture from this period.
Created in 1769, Reynold Keen is executed in oil paint on a canvas support. The work measures 76.2 cm in height and 63.5 cm in width. As a portrait classified within the genre of portraiture, the painting depicts a man in profile.
The application of oil medium on the canvas allows for the detailed rendering characteristic of Matthew Pratt's portraiture from this period. The physical dimensions and material composition define the formal presence of the piece, which remains part of the collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The focus on a single male subject in profile highlights the specific stylistic approach taken by the artist for this commission.
History & Provenance
The oil-on-canvas portrait titled Reynold Keen was created by the American artist Matthew Pratt in 1769. The work, measuring 76.2 by 63.5 centimeters, depicts a man in profile. While the specific commissioning patron and the detailed chain of ownership prior to its current location are not detailed in the provided records, the painting is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
It is classified within the museum's American Wing. The work's inception is firmly dated to 1769, establishing its place in mid-18th-century American portraiture.
The portrait Reynold Keen, painted by Matthew Pratt in 1769, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York. Classified within the American Wing, the oil-on-canvas work measures 76.2 by 63.5 centimeters. While the provided records confirm the painting's location, creator, date, and medium, they do not contain specific accession numbers, inventory identifiers, or a documented list of past exhibitions for this piece.
Consequently, the available data establishes the work's current institutional home but lacks the granular provenance details regarding its acquisition history or public display record.
Overview
Matthew Pratt's oil on canvas portrait, Reynold Keen, dates to approximately 1769. The painting depicts a young man in profile, his face turned to the side. He wears a dark coat, and his hair is powdered white, conveying a composed demeanor. This work offers a direct representation of its sitter, characteristic of colonial portraiture.
Context
Created in America around 1769, this portrait holds significance within the nascent art scene of the colonies. At a time when most aspiring artists sought training in Europe, Matthew Pratt produced this work shortly after his own return from such studies. Consequently, Reynold Keen stands as an early example of professionally executed portraiture within the American colonies, reflecting a growing artistic sophistication.
Artist & collection
Artist
Matthew Pratt left his Pennsylvania home in the 1760s and landed in London, where he walked into Benjamin West’s busy studio.
