Artwork
Portrait of a Boy
Portrait of a Boy is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Samuel V. Homan. It dates from 1843 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Samuel V.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
The subject is a boy, shown with a dog, rendered in watercolor on ivory in 1843 by Samuel V.
The subject is a boy, shown with a dog, rendered in watercolor on ivory in 1843 by Samuel V. Homan. The boy’s direct gaze and the inclusion of the dog suggest themes of youth, companionship, and social status common to mid-nineteenth-century American portrait miniatures. The small scale and refined technique emphasize the sitter’s individuality while situating the work within the genteel conventions of the period’s portrait genre.
Technique & Style
Samuel V. Homan's Portrait of a Boy, executed in 1843, is a miniature portrait created using watercolor paint applied to an ivory support. The work measures 9.4 cm in height and 7.5 cm in width, adhering to the traditional dimensions of the American watercolor on ivory genre. Stylistically, the piece functions as a formal portrait depicting a young boy accompanied by a dog, a common motif in mid-nineteenth-century portraiture.
The medium of watercolor on ivory allows for delicate tonal transitions and a luminous quality characteristic of the period's miniature painting techniques. Homan's handling of the pigment on the smooth ivory surface demonstrates the refined brushwork typical of the American School during this era, focusing on the precise rendering of the main subject's features within a compact format.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Boy is a watercolor on ivory painted in 1843 by American artist Samuel V. Homan. The work, classified as a portrait within the American Wing, depicts a child accompanied by a dog. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it has been displayed as part of the museum’s holdings since its acquisition.
The painting’s dimensions are 9.4 × 7.5 cm, and its creation is documented as occurring in 1843 (inception 1843‑00‑00). No record of a specific commission is provided in the sources.
Portrait of a Boy (1843) by Samuel V. Homan is housed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed in the American Wing’s collection; the work is catalogued as a watercolor on ivory portrait of a boy with a dog. The museum’s records identify it as part of the museum’s holdings, though no specific accession or inventory number is provided in the available documentation. Exhibition records are not mentioned in the sources consulted, so no exhibition history can be cited at this time.
Overview
Samuel V. Homan's Portrait of a Boy, executed in 1843, is a miniature portrait rendered in watercolor on ivory. The work depicts a young male subject dressed in a dark suit, seated with a small white dog resting on his lap. Homan utilizes a plain brown background to isolate the figure, directing the viewer's attention to the boy's serious expression and the contrasting brightness of the animal's fur.
As a miniature, the piece is designed to be viewed at close range, a format that was particularly popular in the early to mid-nineteenth century for personal keepsakes. The use of ivory as a support medium allows the watercolor pigments to achieve a luminous quality, with the translucent nature of the material enhancing the glow of the skin tones and the texture of the dog's coat. This work exemplifies the American tradition of portrait miniatures, serving as an intimate record of the sitter during an era before the widespread dominance of photography.
Homan, an American artist active during this period, produced such works to capture the likeness and status of individuals within the domestic sphere.
Context
Miniatures like "Portrait of a Boy" served a distinct purpose in the 19th century. Unlike larger oil paintings intended for public display, these intimate portraits were primarily created as cherished keepsakes for families. Their diminutive size made them portable and personal, often exchanged as tokens of affection or remembrance, reflecting a private dimension of portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Samuel V. Homan was an American painter active in the first half of the nineteenth century and associated with North Carolina. He worked in the tradition of itinerant portrait painting, producing likenesses for families…
