John Dallas

Unidentified, John Dallas, ca. 1801, oil on panel, image (oval): 6 ⁵⁄₁₆ x 4 ¹⁄₄ in. (16.0 x 10.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.80

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Artwork Details

Title: John Dallas
Artist: Unidentified
Date: ca. 1801
Location: Not on view
Dimensions: image (oval): 6 ⁵⁄₁₆ x 4 ¹⁄₄ in. (16.0 x 10.7 cm)
Credit Line: Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer
Mediums: oil
Mediums Description: oil on panel
Classifications: Painting
Miniature
Subjects: Portrait male — Dallas, John — waist length
Object Number: 1999.27.80
Linked Open Data: https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1999.27.80

Artwork Description

The inscription attached to this miniature reads: “John Dallas Departed this life February 11 1801 Aged 38 Years & 10 months.” John’s death date and the burgundy velour frame suggest that this was a piece of mourning jewelry, given to a loved one to remember the deceased. The formality of the sitter’s dress and pose contrast with his disheveled hair and ravaged face. His appearance implies a mortal illness, while the artist’s careful placement of the sitter next to a window suggests a release from suffering.