Artwork
George Pollock
George Pollock is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1794 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art.
About this work
George Pollock sits in a formal pose, dressed in the style of the 1790s. Gilbert Stuart works the details of face and clothing closely, using light and shadow to build depth. Oil on canvas, 1794.
Technique & Style
Executed in 1793, this portrait of George Pollock is an oil painting on canvas.
Executed in 1793, this portrait of George Pollock is an oil painting on canvas. The work measures 92.2 by 72.1 centimeters and is classified as a portrait. While the specific handling of the paint or current physical condition is not detailed in the available records, the piece is defined by its traditional medium and support typical of late eighteenth-century portraiture.
The artwork remains part of the Andrew W. Mellon collection at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., having been gifted to the institution in 1942.
History & Provenance
Painted by Gilbert Stuart in 1793, this oil-on-canvas portrait depicts George Pollock. The work remained within the sitter's family for over a century, passing from Pollock to his son Carlile Pollock of New Orleans, then to Carlile's daughter Marie Louise Pollock Chiapella. Ownership subsequently likely transferred to her son Henry Chiapella and later to his niece, Louise Chiapella Formento.
The painting was sold to Isaac Monroe Cline of New Orleans sometime between 1915 and 1917. Thomas B. Clarke of New York acquired the portrait on January 16, 1918. Following Clarke's death, the work was sold from his estate on January 29, 1936, through the gallery M. Knoedler & Co. to The A.W. Mellon Education and Charitable Trust in Pittsburgh. Finally, the trust gifted the painting to the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., in 1942.
The portrait of George Pollock by Gilbert Stuart is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., specifically within the Andrew W. Mellon collection. The work was accessioned as a gift from the A.W. Mellon Education and Charitable Trust in 1942, following its purchase by the trust in January 1936 from the estate of Thomas B. Clarke. Prior to entering the Mellon Trust, the painting was sold by M. Knoedler & Co. on behalf of the Clarke estate.
The provenance traces back through Isaac Monroe Cline, who acquired the work between 1915 and 1917, and earlier owners in the Pollock and Chiapella families in New Orleans. While the sources detail the painting's ownership history and current location, they do not list specific exhibition records.
Overview
Gilbert Stuart completed this oil on canvas portrait, titled George Pollock, in 1794. The painting captures the likeness of its subject, George Pollock, presenting a formal depiction characteristic of late 18th-century portraiture. It serves as a historical record of an individual from that period, reflecting the artistic conventions of the era.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features George Pollock seated in a formal posture, dressed in attire typical of the late 18th century. His composed demeanor and period clothing offer insight into the social conventions and personal presentation of individuals during that era. The work functions as a visual document, preserving the appearance of a specific person from the past for future generations.
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Artist & collection
Artist
Gilbert Stuart (né Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.
