Artwork
James Merrill Cook
James Merrill Cook is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Nelson Cook. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
If you like this, check out works by Gilbert Stuart at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
This painting shows a man in a dark coat against a plain background. He sits straight, hands resting on his knees. The light hits his face sharply, making his features clear.
Nelson Cook painted this in 1840. It feels stiff to us now, but back then this was normal for portraits. The man’s face shows little emotion, which was the style then.
If you like this, check out works by Gilbert Stuart at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents James Merrill Cook as the central figure, a man posed in a conventional portrait style typical of mid‑19th‑century American art, his likeness rendered in oil on canvas. The work functions as a family record, emphasizing paternal authorship and the sitter’s social standing. No explicit symbolic attributes are noted; the meaning derives from its role as a portrait of a known individual within the Cook family in the family's visual legacy.
Technique & Style
The painting is executed in oil on canvas, using a vertical format measuring 122.2 cm in height and 62.2 cm in width. The handling reflects mid-nineteenth-century American portrait conventions, with smooth, blended modeling of the sitter’s facial features and controlled brushwork across the costume and background. The composition centers on the standing figure of James M. Cook, rendered with clear delineation of facial features and attire, suggesting the artist’s focus on verisimilitude. No evidence of significant condition issues is indicated by the sources.
History & Provenance
The portrait of James Merrill Cook by Nelson Cook is dated 1840 and has remained in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art since its acquisition.
The work entered the museum’s holdings as part of its American Wing collection, where it has been documented as a portrait of James Merrill Cook. Technical records associated with the painting confirm its creation date as 1840 and list the sitter’s identity as James M. Cook.
The portrait of James Merrill Cook is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, specifically within its American Wing. Painted by Nelson Cook in 1840, the oil on canvas work measures 122.2 cm in height and 62.2 cm in width. While the painting's current location and physical attributes are documented, the provided records do not list a specific accession number or detail any past exhibitions in which the work has been displayed.
Overview
This oil on canvas work, titled James Merrill Cook, was painted by Nelson Cook in 1840. The portrait depicts its namesake subject, a man, and is part of The American Wing's collection. It offers a direct representation of an individual from the period, captured with the artistic conventions prevalent in early 19th-century American portraiture.
Context
Created in 1840, this portrait exemplifies the aesthetic norms of its era. While contemporary viewers might perceive a certain rigidity in the sitter's pose and a lack of overt emotion, such characteristics were standard in 19th-century American portraiture. Artists of the period often aimed for a dignified and composed representation, aligning with societal expectations for formal likenesses rather than dynamic or highly expressive portrayals.
Legacy
For those interested in the development of American portraiture, Nelson Cook's work can be considered alongside that of prominent artists like Gilbert Stuart. Stuart's portraits, also featured in institutions such as The Metropolitan Museum of Art, provide further insight into the stylistic evolution and artistic practices that shaped the genre during the late 18th and early 19th centuries, offering a broader context for understanding works like James Merrill Cook.
Artist & collection
