Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1835 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
- Accession no.
- 2006.235.297
- Credit line
- Fletcher Fund, 2006
About this work
Technique & Style
As an anonymous creation housed within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing collection, the piece focuses formally on the depiction of a male subject.
Executed in 1835, this portrait utilizes watercolor applied to an ivory support, a medium characteristic of miniature painting traditions. The work measures approximately 5.4 by 4.6 units, indicating a small-scale format intended for intimate viewing. As an anonymous creation housed within the Metropolitan Museum of Art's American Wing collection, the piece focuses formally on the depiction of a male subject.
The specific handling of the watercolor on the smooth ivory surface would typically allow for fine detail and luminosity, though specific condition reports or stylistic nuances regarding brushwork are not detailed in the available records. The classification as a portrait underscores its primary function as a representation of an individual gentleman from the mid-nineteenth century.
History & Provenance
The work titled Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor on ivory dating to 1835, as recorded in the Metropolitan Museum of Art’s catalogue and confirmed by its Wikidata entry. The piece, attributed to an anonymous hand, measures 5.4 × 4.6 inches and portrays a man in a portrait format. It has been part of the museum’s collection since 2006 under accession number 2006.235.297, and is classified within The American Wing. The artist remains unidentified, and no documentary evidence of a specific commission exists in the available sources.
The Portrait of a Gentleman is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, where it is classified under The American Wing. Its accession number is 2006.235.297, reflecting its incorporation into the museum's holdings in 2006. No exhibition history beyond its presence in the permanent collection is documented in the available sources.
The work, a watercolor on ivory dating to 1835, remains part of the museum's portrait holdings, with its location consistently identified as the Metropolitan Museum of Art across institutional and linked data records.
Context
The anonymous watercolor portrait dated 1835, classified as a genre portrait of a man, exemplifies early nineteenth‑century American portraiture practiced in the United States. Executed on ivory with a modest size of roughly 5.4 by 4.6 inches, the work is part of The American Wing at the Metropolitan Museum of Art (accession 2006.235.297). Its attribution to an unknown hand reflects the prevalence of unattributed portraiture among elite subjects during this period, while its inclusion in a major museum collection underscores scholarly interest in documenting the development of American visual culture.
The piece contributes to the broader narrative of early American art by illustrating the stylistic conventions and material experimentation of the era.
Overview
The "Portrait of a Gentleman" is a watercolor rendered on ivory, a common medium for miniature artworks. This small-scale piece presents a man in a dark coat, whose direct gaze engages the viewer. His face is softly lit, revealing subtle contours.
The painting's diminutive dimensions, easily held in the palm of a hand, underscore its intended use as a personal and portable item.
Artist & collection
