Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the Rococo painting artist Nathaniel Rogers. It dates from 1815 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The composition emphasizes a restrained palette and precise facial characterization, conveying both realism and a delicate handling characteristic of the genre.
The work is executed in watercolor on a thin ivory panel, a technique documented for Nathaniel Rogers’s 1815 portrait. Rogers applied delicate washes and fine linear detail to render the sitter’s features and the folds of his coat, creating a soft tonal modeling typical of early American portrait miniatures. The support’s translucency enhances the luminous quality of the pigments, while the compact dimensions (approximately 7.3 × 5.7 cm) reflect the intimate scale of such pieces.
The composition emphasizes a restrained palette and precise facial characterization, conveying both realism and a delicate handling characteristic of the genre.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Gentleman, a watercolor on ivory by Nathaniel Rogers dated 1815, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under the institution's American Wing. Its accession number is 2006.235.161. The work measures 7.3 by 5.7 centimeters. No exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Context
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory painted in 1815 by Nathaniel Rogers, classified as a portrait and housed in The American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The work, accessioned 2006.235.161, is listed in the museum’s collection and described on Wikidata as a painting by Rogers, depicting a man. Its placement within the museum’s American decorative arts underscores its role as an early example of American portraiture, offering a point of reference for scholarship on Rogers’ oeuvre.
Overview
Nathaniel Rogers created this "Portrait of a Gentleman" in 1815, utilizing watercolor on ivory. This miniature work captures an unnamed male subject, representing a common form of personal portraiture during the early 19th century. The piece is part of the American Wing collection, reflecting the artistic practices prevalent in the United States at that time.
Subject & Meaning
The painting depicts a man in a dark coat, his features softly illuminated against a plain background. His calm and steady eyes meet the viewer's gaze directly, establishing an intimate connection. This straightforward presentation emphasizes the individual's presence, characteristic of portraits intended for private contemplation rather than public display.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nathaniel Rogers (1787-1844) was an American miniature painter, born at Bridgehampton on Long Island, New York.
