Artwork
Portrait of a Gentleman
Portrait of a Gentleman is a watercolor painting. It dates from 1828 and is held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. This small, circular watercolor on ivory depicts an unidentified man, presented within a gilded copper case.
About this work
Technique & Style
The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones to convey the sitter’s sober attire and physiognomy.
The miniature is rendered in watercolor on ivory, housed in a gilded copper case, a format characteristic of early nineteenth-century portrait miniatures intended for intimate display and exchange.
Handling emphasizes fine, controlled brushwork to delineate facial features and costume details, with delicate hatching and stippling employed to model form and texture. The palette is restrained, relying on muted tones to convey the sitter’s sober attire and physiognomy.
Condition appears stable with no significant losses reported; the ivory support remains intact within the original gilded copper frame, preserving the work’s reflective surface and delicate detailing.
History & Provenance
The Portrait of a Gentleman was created in 1827 by an unknown artist. This watercolor on ivory, housed in a gilded copper case, depicts a man and measures 5.9 cm in height by 4.7 cm in width. While the specific commission details and original ownership chain are not recorded in the available documentation, the work is currently held in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The museum acquired the piece in 2006, cataloging it under the accession number 2006.235.221. It is classified within the museum's American Wing as a portrait genre work.
Portrait of a Gentleman is held in the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, where it is catalogued under accession number 2006.235.221. The work is listed in the museum’s American Wing collection and is classified as a portrait. Its creation date is recorded as 1827, matching the entry in the internal catalogue.
The piece measures 5.9 cm × 4.7 cm and depicts a man, consistent with the description of the subject. No exhibition records are cited in the available documentation.
Context
The Portrait of a Gentleman is an early‑19th‑century American portrait executed in watercolor on ivory and set in a gilded copper case, dating to 1827. It belongs to the classification of The American Wing and is categorized as a portrait genre depicting a man.
As an example of miniature portraiture, the work illustrates the elite visual culture of the period and reflects the stylistic conventions of American miniaturists active in the 1820s. Its inclusion in a major museum collection underscores its relevance to scholarship on early American portraiture.
Overview
This small, circular watercolor on ivory depicts an unidentified man, presented within a gilded copper case. As a miniature, it was designed for portability, serving a function similar to modern photographs. The subject wears a black coat and a white collar, rendered with a soft, luminous quality, characteristic of this intimate art form often found in collections like the American Wing.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait presents a gentleman with a composed expression, his features rendered with a gentle softness, rosy cheeks, and calm eyes. Dressed in a black coat and a white collar, his image embodies the personal nature of miniatures. These small-scale works often served as cherished mementos, carried by their owners as private reminders of loved ones or significant individuals.
Artist & collection
