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Portrait of an unknown man

Herbert Luther Smith

1849

watercolor

From the collection of Victoria and Albert Museum

American Folk Art Romanticism Early 19th Century Portrait

Dominant colour

Portrait of an unknown man is a 1849 watercolor by Herbert Luther Smith, a American Folk Art work, held at Victoria and Albert Museum.

Who painted this?: Herbert Luther Smith
When & what style?: 1849 · American Folk Art
Where can I see it?: Victoria and Albert Museum

About this work

This painting is a portrait of a man with a long white beard and dark hair. He's sitting in a chair, wearing a dark robe, and holding a book and glasses. The background is a room with a fireplace and a few objects on the mantle. The man's face is serious, and his eyes seem to be looking right at you. The painting is done in watercolor, which gives it a soft, dreamy quality. The colors are muted, with lots of blues and grays. If you're interested in learning more about this style of painting, you might want to check out the Romanticism movement.