Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Nathaniel Rogers. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
This medium and substrate combination was characteristic of miniature portraiture during the period, allowing for fine detail and luminous color.
Nathaniel Rogers executed the Portrait of a Gentleman in 1835 using watercolor applied to an ivory support. This medium and substrate combination was characteristic of miniature portraiture during the period, allowing for fine detail and luminous color. The work measures 6.8 by 5.5 units, indicating a small-scale format typical for intimate depictions of a single male subject.
The handling of the watercolor on the smooth ivory surface facilitates the precise rendering required for facial features in this genre. Currently held within the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the piece remains classified under the American Wing, preserving its status as a significant example of early 19th-century American portraiture technique.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory created by Nathaniel Rogers in 1835. The painting, recorded as a portrait within the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, portrays a man and is documented with dimensions of 6.8 by 5.5 inches. It has been part of the museum’s permanent collection since its acquisition, forming part of the institution’s holdings of early American portraiture.
The work’s creation history is tied to Rogers’s activity as a miniature portraitist of the period, and its current location reflects continuous ownership by the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Portrait of a Gentleman (1835) by Nathaniel Rogers is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, within the department known as The American Wing. The work is recorded as part of the museum’s collection of paintings, though no specific accession or inventory number is listed in the available documentation. Its dimensions are 6.8 × 5.5 inches, and it is classified as a portrait depicting a man.
The painting has not been identified in published exhibition catalogs within the provided sources, so no exhibition history can be documented from the current records.
Overview
Nathaniel Rogers painted this watercolor portrait, titled Portrait of a Gentleman, around 1835. The miniature depicts an unidentified man, rendered with delicate brushwork on an ivory surface. This format was popular for its portability and personal nature, allowing for a detailed yet intimate depiction of the sitter. The artwork offers a glimpse into portraiture practices of the mid-19th century.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a gentleman in a dark coat, his gaze directed forward. A crisp white collar and a prominent gold watch chain provide contrasting details against his attire and the plain background. The soft illumination on his face emphasizes his features, creating an immediate and direct connection with the viewer.
Such miniature portraits often served as cherished personal mementos, carried by loved ones or displayed in intimate settings.
Artist & collection
Artist
Nathaniel Rogers (1787-1844) was an American miniature painter, born at Bridgehampton on Long Island, New York.
