Jonas Platt
1828
oil
From the collection of Brooklyn Museum
1828
oil
From the collection of Brooklyn Museum
This portrait painting depicts a man seated in a chair, with his left arm resting on a table beside him. He wears a black coat over a white shirt and dark tie, and has short, dark hair. The background is a dark red curtain, with a lighter-colored wall visible to the right. The man's gaze is directed at the viewer, and his expression is neutral. His right hand is placed in his lap, while his left hand rests on the table, which holds a stack of books and papers. The overall atmosphere of the painting is one of quiet contemplation. The artist's use of chiaroscuro creates a sense of depth and dimensionality in the painting, drawing the viewer's eye to the subject's face and hands. For more information on the artist's use of this technique, look up Samuel Finley Breese Morse.
