Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1840, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.61
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1840, watercolor on ivory, image (oval): 1 11⁄16 x 1 3⁄8 in. (4.3 x 3.5 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.61
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1840
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
image (oval): 1 11⁄16 x 1 3⁄8 in. (4.3 x 3.5 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1999.27.61
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1999.27.61

Artwork Description

The older gentleman in this miniature holds an eyepiece suspended on a fabric loop. The sitter’s three-piece black suit and tie imply he was a responsible member of middle-class society. His warm eyes, colored with the same hues as the background, suggest a kind and intelligent personality.