Portrait of William Duguid

Created in 1773 in Boston, this oil-on-canvas portrait depicts William Duguid holding a book. The work was executed by Prince Demah Barnes, an artist active in the American colonies during this period. While specific details regarding the original commission or the immediate ownership chain following its creation are not provided in the available records, the painting eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

The institution currently holds the work, where it is classified within the American Wing. The portrait's inception date is firmly established as 1773, marking it as an example of late colonial American portraiture prior to the artist's later documented activities.

Portrait of William Duguid is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is part of The American Wing collection. The work is catalogued under the museum’s inventory as a painting in the American Wing genre, reflecting its classification within the museum’s decorative arts division. No exhibition record is documented in the available sources, indicating that the piece has not been listed in publicly announced exhibitions to date. The painting dates to 1773, executed in oil on canvas, and depicts the subject holding a book.

Prince Demah's 1773 oil-on-canvas work depicts William Duguid, seated and holding a book. This portrait is notable not only for its Rococo style but also for the artist's unique position. Demah, an individual of African descent who had experienced enslavement, is recognized as the sole known enslaved painter in colonial America whose works have endured.

Created in Boston just prior to the American Revolution, this portrait offers insight into the challenging circumstances faced by Black artists during the colonial era. Prince Demah, also known as Demah Barnes, was among the earliest Black artists in America to sustain himself through painting. His ability to secure portrait commissions was exceptional, given the limited opportunities generally available to Black artists at the time.

Prince Demah holds a significant place in American art history as the only documented enslaved painter from colonial America whose artwork survives. His career in Boston, where he earned a living as an artist, predates the American Revolution. This achievement underscores his unique talent and perseverance, establishing him as a pioneering figure among Black artists in the nascent United States.