Artwork
De Witt Clinton
De Witt Clinton is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel Finley Breese Morse. It dates from 1826 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This oil on canvas depicts DeWitt Clinton, a prominent American political figure.
About this work
History & Provenance
While the specific commissioning details and initial ownership chain are not detailed in the available records, the painting's creation is firmly dated to 1826.
Samuel F. B. Morse created the oil-on-canvas portrait of DeWitt Clinton in 1826. The work, measuring 76.2 by 63.8 centimeters, depicts the subject as a man in a formal portrait style. While the specific commissioning details and initial ownership chain are not detailed in the available records, the painting's creation is firmly dated to 1826.
The artwork is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it resides in the American Wing. It depicts the American statesman DeWitt Clinton and remains a significant example of Morse's portraiture from the early nineteenth century. The provided documentation does not record any specific exhibition history for this portrait beyond its inclusion in the museum’s permanent display.
Overview
This oil on canvas depicts DeWitt Clinton, a prominent American political figure. The portrait captures him seated at a desk, quill in hand, with a serious and contemplative expression. A deep red curtain and a muted city view frame the background, contributing to the work's solemn atmosphere. Created shortly after Clinton's passing, the painting functions as a posthumous homage to his public service.
Subject & Meaning
The painting commemorates DeWitt Clinton, known for his instrumental role in the construction of the Erie Canal as mayor of New York City. Morse portrays him amidst the tools of his work, with a cluttered desk and a quill poised as if momentarily paused from writing. This detail, combined with his pensive gaze, suggests a figure deeply engaged in his civic duties, even in remembrance.
Context
Samuel F. B. Morse executed this portrait of DeWitt Clinton only a few months after Clinton's death. This timing imbues the work with a commemorative quality, serving as a visual tribute rather than a direct sitting. The somber mood and the depiction of Clinton in a moment of quiet reflection underscore the painting's function as a memorial to a significant public servant.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Finley Breese Morse (April 27, 1791 – April 2, 1872) was an American inventor and painter.
