Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Sarah Goodridge. It dates from 1825 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait within the American Wing’s collection, it exemplifies early‑American portraiture that emphasized refinement and social standing.
The painting presents a male sitter, identified as a gentleman, rendered in watercolor on ivory in 1825. As a portrait within the American Wing’s collection, it exemplifies early‑American portraiture that emphasized refinement and social standing. The work’s subject is recorded as a man, and its classification as a portrait underscores the convention of depicting elite men to convey personal identity and status.
The piece’s iconography aligns with conventional representations of respectable masculinity in the period, suggesting attributes of honor and respectability associated with the sitter’s social role.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1825 by Sarah Goodridge, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support. The work is characterized by its miniature scale, measuring approximately 8.3 by 6.1 units. As a portrait of a gentleman, the piece demonstrates the artist's engagement with the specific demands of painting on ivory, a medium requiring distinct handling to achieve the desired luminosity and detail typical of early nineteenth-century American portraiture.
The composition focuses solely on the male subject, adhering to the conventions of the genre during this period.
History & Provenance
Created in 1825, this watercolor on ivory portrait of an unidentified gentleman was executed by the American artist Sarah Goodridge. The work dates to the early nineteenth century, a period when Goodridge was actively producing miniature portraits. While specific details regarding the original commission or the identity of the sitter are not provided in the available records, the piece has been preserved within a major institutional collection.
It is currently held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, where it is classified under the American Wing. The physical object measures approximately 8.3 by 6.1 units, consistent with the intimate scale typical of ivory miniatures from this era.
Portrait of a Gentleman by Sarah Goodridge, a watercolor on ivory executed in 1825, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified within The American Wing. The work's dimensions are recorded as 8.3 cm in height and 6.1 cm in width. No specific accession number, acquisition date, or prior exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
Sarah Goodridge's Portrait of a Gentleman, created around 1825, exemplifies the miniature portraiture popular in early 19th-century America. This small-scale watercolor on ivory depicts an unidentified man, capturing his likeness with precise detail. Such works were often cherished personal mementos, reflecting the era's social customs and artistic trends. The work is part of The American Wing, highlighting its significance within American art history.
Context
During the early 19th century, miniature portraits on ivory were a prevalent art form, particularly in America. Before the advent of photography, these small, portable artworks fulfilled a similar role, serving as cherished personal objects exchanged among family and friends. Artists like Goodridge specialized in this genre, providing a means for individuals to preserve their image or that of their loved ones in an intimate and accessible format, reflecting a widespread cultural practice.
Artist & collection
Artist
Sarah Goodridge spent her life in Boston, teaching herself to paint miniatures on ivory, tiny portraits so sharp you could count the threads in a lace collar.
