Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1830 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.238
- Credit line
- Fletcher Fund, 2006
About this work
Subject & Meaning
As a portrait, it functions to record the appearance of a gentleman, likely reflecting contemporary notions of status and identity.
The painting titled Portrait of a Gentleman, executed in 1830 as a watercolor on ivory, portrays an unidentified male sitter and is classified within the portrait genre. As a portrait, it functions to record the appearance of a gentleman, likely reflecting contemporary notions of status and identity. The work is part of The American Wing collection at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession 2006.235.238) and measures approximately 6.7 × 5.4 cm. Its depiction of a man aligns with the conventional purpose of portraiture to convey the sitter's presence and social role.
Technique & Style
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory support, dated 1830, measuring approximately 6.7 cm in height by 5.4 cm in width. The work is listed in the Metropolitan Museum of Art's collection as accession number 2006.235.238 and is classified within the American Wing's portrait genre, portraying a male sitter. It is recorded as a painting by an anonymous artist in the museum's records.
Context
The 1830 watercolor on ivory titled Portrait of a Gentleman, held in The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, exemplifies early American portraiture through its depiction of a dignified male sitter. The work, attributed to an anonymous hand, reflects the period's emphasis on refined representation and the growing market for portrait miniatures among the young republic's elite. Its small scale, approximately 6.7 × 5.4 cm, is typical of the miniature portrait format fashionable in the early nineteenth century.
Overview
This miniature, titled Portrait of a Gentleman, is rendered in watercolor on a small piece of ivory. The artwork depicts a man in a dark coat, his gaze directed forward, with soft illumination highlighting his features. Measuring less than a playing card, its diminutive scale is characteristic of portraits from its era, suggesting it was intended for intimate viewing or as a personal memento. It is housed within The American Wing collection.
Artist & collection
