Artwork
Charles Henry Augustus Carter
Charles Henry Augustus Carter is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Nicholas Biddle Kittell. It dates from 1845 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The composition serves to document the appearance of Carter, a specific male figure, within the context of mid-nineteenth-century American portraiture.
The work is a formal portrait depicting Charles Henry Augustus Carter, identified simply as a man in the subject field. Created in 1845 by Nicholas Biddle Kittell, the painting utilizes the oil-on-canvas medium to present a straightforward representation of the sitter. As a genre portrait, the piece focuses on the individual likeness without explicit narrative scenes or complex allegorical elements described in the available records.
The composition serves to document the appearance of Carter, a specific male figure, within the context of mid-nineteenth-century American portraiture. No additional symbolic objects, iconographic details, or specific representational meanings beyond the depiction of the sitter himself are recorded in the provided sources.
Technique & Style
The work is an oil painting executed on canvas, as indicated by its medium and material designations in the documentation. The support is a stretched canvas of dimensions 91.8 cm by 76.2 cm, placing the piece within the classification of The American Wing and identifying it as a portrait. The handling is typical of oil on canvas works, though specific conservation details are not provided.
Formally, the composition portrays a man in a conventional portrait format, reflecting the genre’s emphasis on realistic representation and individualized characterization.
History & Provenance
The portrait titled Charles Henry Augustus Carter was painted by Nicholas Biddle Kittell in 1845 using oil on canvas, measuring 91.8 cm by 76.2 cm. It depicts a man and belongs to the portrait genre. The work is part of The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been in the museum’s collection since its acquisition. Its creation history is documented through the artist’s activity in 1845, and it remains classified within the museum’s American art holdings.
The portrait is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it forms part of the institution's American Wing collection. Catalogued as an oil on canvas work by Nicholas Biddle Kittell, dated 1845, the painting is recorded in Wikidata with dimensions of 91.8 cm in height and 76.2 cm in width. The provided sources do not specify a Met accession number, nor do they document any exhibition history beyond its current placement in the museum's holdings.
Overview
Nicholas Biddle Kittell created this oil portrait, titled Charles Henry Augustus Carter, around 1845. Executed on canvas, the artwork captures the likeness of its subject, Charles Henry Augustus Carter, in a formal yet intimate manner. This piece exemplifies mid-19th-century American portraiture, reflecting the period's conventions for depicting individuals with a sense of quiet dignity.
Artist & collection
