Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the British Romanticist artist Thomas E. Barratt. It dates from 1840 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Subject & Meaning
Executed in watercolor on ivory in 1840, the piece is classified as a portrait within The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The work portrays a white male sitter rendered in a conventional gentleman's pose, reflecting the visual language of nineteenth-century American portraiture that signals respectability and social standing. Executed in watercolor on ivory in 1840, the piece is classified as a portrait within The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art. Its subject's attire and composed demeanor align with contemporary ideals of genteel masculinity, while the depiction of a white male figure underscores the era's prevailing representation of elite status. The painting's material and dimensions (5.4 × 4.4 cm) situate it within the museum's miniature portrait holdings.
Technique & Style
Portrait of a Gentleman is an 1840 watercolor executed on a thin ivory support, typical of early American miniature portraiture. The artist employed transparent watercolor washes to render fine facial detail and subtle tonal modeling, creating a realistic yet delicate likeness. The work measures approximately 5.4 × 4.4 cm, reflecting the modest scale common for miniature portraits of the period.
Its formal style combines precise draftsmanship with a restrained palette, emphasizing the sitter's dignified presence. The piece is catalogued as a portrait within The American Wing and is part of the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection.
History & Provenance
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory painted by American artist Thomas E. Barratt in 1840. Classified within The American Wing, it depicts a white male sitter and is catalogued as a portrait. It entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where its dimensions are recorded as 5.4 cm in height by 4.4 cm in width. No specific accession number or detailed exhibition history is documented in the available sources.
Overview
This miniature, titled Portrait of a Gentleman, was created around 1840 by Thomas E. Barratt. Executed in watercolor on ivory, it presents a finely rendered depiction of a man. The artwork exemplifies the intimate scale and detailed execution characteristic of portraiture from the period, offering a glimpse into personal artistic practices within the American tradition.
Artist & collection
