Who painted Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man was painted by Sir Godfrey Kneller in ca. 1720–30.

Where can I see Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is held by Metropolitan Museum of Art.

What movement is Portrait of a Man?

Portrait of a Man is associated with Baroque.

Portrait of a Man by Sir Godfrey Kneller (ca. 1720–30)

About this work

Subject & Meaning

The work is classified as a portrait and is included in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed under the genre of portrait.

The Portrait of a Man, painted in oil on canvas around 1720, shows a seated male sitter accompanied by a book, an object recorded in the source as part of the depicted elements. The work is classified as a portrait and is included in the American Wing of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is listed under the genre of portrait. The presence of the book functions as an attribute that, within the context of early‑ eighteenth‑century portraiture, signals literacy and learned status.

The painting thus represents a gentleman of cultivated education, as reflected in the combination of figure and symbolic object.

History & Provenance

The work, titled Portrait of a Man, is an oil-on-canvas painting dated to 1720. While some attributions link the piece to Sir Godfrey Kneller, other scholarly assessments classify it as a product of the School of Sir Godfrey Kneller, who lived from 1646 to 1723. The painting was created during the early eighteenth century and depicts a man holding a book.

It is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art within its American Wing. Specific details regarding the original commission, the identity of the initial patron, or the precise chain of ownership prior to its arrival at the museum are not provided in the available records. The artwork measures 125.2 cm in height and 99.8 cm in width.

The Portrait of a Man, dated to 1720, is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Classified within The American Wing, the oil-on-canvas work depicts a man holding a book. The painting is attributed to the School of Sir Godfrey Kneller, with dimensions recorded as 125.2 cm in height and 99.8 cm in width.

While the specific accession number is not provided in the available records, the work is cataloged under the museum's holdings as a portrait from the early 18th century. No specific exhibition history or past display dates are detailed in the current source material.

Overview

Sir Godfrey Kneller's "Portrait of a Man," an oil on canvas from approximately 1725, captures an unidentified sitter. This work is notable for its probable creation in the American colonies, a less common practice for portraits of this caliber during the period. The composition emphasizes the subject's presence against a simple backdrop, characteristic of the era's portraiture.

Technique & Style

Kneller employed a soft, almost candlelight-like illumination on the man's face, drawing attention to his features and creating a sense of intimacy. A plain, dark background ensures the viewer's focus remains solely on the sitter, a common technique to highlight the subject. The artist's stylistic approach reflects his experience in both London and the American colonies, where he adapted and combined prevailing artistic trends.