Artwork
Portrait of a Man
Portrait of a Man is an unspecified painting by Samuel Shelley. It dates from 1800 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The piece exemplifies early‑19th‑century portraiture, presenting the sitter in a straightforward manner typical of the genre.
The painting titled Portrait of a Man was created by Samuel Shelley in 1800. It is classified as a portrait and portrays a man, as indicated by the main subject designation. The work measures 75 cm in height and 60 cm in width.
It is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it appears in the museum’s collection of paintings. The piece exemplifies early‑19th‑century portraiture, presenting the sitter in a straightforward manner typical of the genre.
History & Provenance
Samuel Shelley painted Portrait of a Man in 1800, producing an oil on canvas that measures 75 cm in height and 60 cm in width; the work is classified as a portrait and falls within the portrait genre. The painting is listed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s collection, where it has been since its recorded inception on 1800‑01‑01. No further details about a commissioning patron or earlier owners are provided in the documented sources, and the museum’s records simply note the artist, title, date, and dimensions as the core provenance information.
The painting is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is recorded as part of the institution’s holdings.
Its dimensions are 75 cm in height and 60 cm in width.
The work has not been listed among the museum’s recent exhibitions in the available sources.
Overview
Samuel Shelley, a largely self-taught English artist, completed Portrait of a Man in 1800. This small painting exemplifies his specialization in miniature portraiture, a genre for which he was widely recognized. The work captures the likeness of an unidentified individual, rendered with the precision characteristic of this intimate art form. It is now part of The Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
Technique & Style
Shelley rendered the subject with meticulous attention to detail, particularly in the delicate modeling of the face. Light subtly illuminates the man's forehead and cheekbones, enhancing the three-dimensional quality of his features. The artist employed smooth brushstrokes to create a soft, refined texture for the skin, a technique often associated with the subtle transitions of light and shadow found in miniature painting.
Context
Samuel Shelley established himself as a prominent figure within the English miniature painting scene of the late 18th and early 19th centuries. Although largely self-taught, his skill in capturing individual likenesses placed him among the leading artists of his era. He was often mentioned alongside contemporaries like Richard Cosway and John Smart, who were also highly regarded for their contributions to the genre of portrait miniatures.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel Shelley (1750/56–22 December 1808) was an English miniaturist and watercolour painter.
