Artwork
A Man with the Initials CJD
A Man with the Initials CJD is an ivory painting. It dates from 1770 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
About this work
Technique & Style
Its modest dimensions, 45 cm in height and 34 cm in width, and its classification as a painting indicate a finely handled, small-scale composition.
The work is executed on ivory as its support, a material commonly favored for miniature portraiture in the eighteenth century. Its modest dimensions, 45 cm in height and 34 cm in width, and its classification as a painting indicate a finely handled, small-scale composition. The medium and support together suggest a delicate, precise technique suited to detailed portrait likenesses, consistent with the genre conventions of the period.
The ivory ground would have permitted smooth, translucent handling of paint, allowing for subtle tonal modeling of the sitter's features. No specific condition report or stylistic attribution beyond its Northern European origin is documented in the available sources.
History & Provenance
Created in 1770, this ivory portrait depicts a man identified by the initials CJD. The work is attributed to a Northern European painter, though specific details regarding its original commission or the identity of the sitter beyond these initials remain unrecorded in the available documentation. Following its creation, the painting eventually entered the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is currently housed.
The object measures 45 units in height and 34 units in width. No intermediate ownership history or provenance chain prior to its acquisition by the museum is provided in the current records.
Overview
This oval portrait, titled A Man with the Initials CJD, is a painting executed on ivory. It presents a bust-length depiction of an unidentified man, whose initials are incorporated into the artwork's title. The subject is rendered with a slight turn of the head, capturing a dignified and composed demeanor.
The use of ivory as a support contributes to the delicate and refined quality of the piece, characteristic of miniature portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The painting features a man from the chest up, his gaze directed slightly to the left. He is portrayed with short, curly hair and dressed in formal attire, including a dark jacket, a white shirt, and a prominent bow tie. The dark background serves to emphasize the sitter's features and attire, contributing to an impression of elegance.
While his identity remains known only by his initials, the portrait conveys a sense of the subject's social standing and personal refinement.
Artist & collection
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