Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting by the American Folk Art artist Thomas Seir Cummings. It dates from 1842 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
The work is executed in watercolor on ivory, a miniature portrait technique that allowed for fine, translucent washes applied to a smooth, luminous support.
The work is executed in watercolor on ivory, a miniature portrait technique that allowed for fine, translucent washes applied to a smooth, luminous support. Its diminutive format, measuring approximately 5.6 by 4.2 centimeters, is characteristic of nineteenth-century portable likenesses intended for intimate viewing. The use of ivory as a ground lent a warm, slightly translucent quality to the sitter's complexion, while the watercolor medium enabled delicate blending and precise rendering of facial features at a small scale.
The composition is a bust-length depiction of a man, consistent with the conventions of genteel portrait miniatures of the period. No condition issues are documented in the available records.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Gentleman was created in 1842 by the American artist Thomas Seir Cummings. Executed as a watercolor on ivory, this miniature measures approximately 5.6 by 4.2 centimeters and depicts a male subject. It is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, within its American Wing, under accession number 2006.235.7, having entered the collection in 2006.
While the specific commission details and the identity of the original patron are not recorded, the work stands as an example of mid-nineteenth-century American miniature portraiture. No exhibition history is documented for the miniature in the available sources.
Overview
This watercolor on ivory, created by Thomas Seir Cummings in 1842, presents a likeness of an unidentified man. The small-scale portrait, part of The American Wing collection, captures the subject with a direct gaze. His attire, a dark suit, and his neatly styled hair reflect the fashion of the period, while the soft illumination highlights his features.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait depicts a gentleman in formal attire, his crisp collar and carefully combed hair suggesting a refined presentation. His gaze directly engages the viewer, creating an intimate connection. Such small, portable images were often commissioned as personal mementos, intended to be carried or displayed privately, preserving the likeness of loved ones or esteemed acquaintances.
Artist & collection
