Artwork
John Henry Remsen
John Henry Remsen is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1795 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 68.222.7
- Credit line
- Gift of J. William Middendorf II, 1968
About this work
Technique & Style
The painting belongs to the American Wing’s portrait genre and portrays an unidentified man, reflecting the anonymous nature of many colonial-era likenesses.
The work titled John Henry Remsen, dated 1795, is executed in watercolor on an ivory support, a technique typical of early American portraiture. Its modest dimensions measure approximately 6.2 cm by 5.1 cm, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalog. The painting belongs to the American Wing’s portrait genre and portrays an unidentified man, reflecting the anonymous nature of many colonial-era likenesses.
Executed on a thin ivory panel, the medium allows translucent washes that define facial features with delicate tonal modulation. The composition remains conventional, emphasizing a straightforward frontal pose without ornamental embellishment.
History & Provenance
The work is held by the Metropolitan Museum of Art and is included in The American Wing collection; it is cataloged as an anonymous portrait watercolor on ivory, created in 1795, with recorded dimensions of 6.2 × 5.1 inches. The entry does not assign an explicit accession or inventory number, and the available documentation does not mention any exhibition history for the piece. Its classification as a portrait aligns with the museum’s genre categorization, and the work remains part of the museum’s permanent holdings without recorded loan or display events in the sources consulted.
Overview
This intimate portrait depicts John Henry Remsen, rendered in watercolor on a small ivory support. The artwork captures a young man with a direct gaze, his features carefully articulated against a simple background. Its miniature scale, roughly the size of a playing card, contributes to its personal and delicate character, distinguishing it from the larger-scale oil paintings prevalent during its era.
Subject & Meaning
The painting presents a young man, John Henry Remsen, looking directly forward. He is dressed in a dark coat, complemented by a crisp white cravat, and his hair is neatly styled and tied back. The artist chose a plain brown background, ensuring that the viewer's attention remains focused entirely on the sitter's composed expression and refined attire, conveying a sense of quiet dignity.
Context
While grand oil portraits on canvas were common for public display during this period, "John Henry Remsen" represents a more private form of portraiture. Its small scale and delicate medium made such works suitable for personal contemplation or as cherished mementos. Housed within the American Wing, it offers insight into the diverse approaches to capturing individual likenesses in American art.
Artist & collection
