Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1815, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Transportation, Smithsonian Institution, 1982.99
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1815, watercolor on paper, sight 4 3⁄4 x 3 3⁄4 in. (12.0 x 9.5 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Transportation, Smithsonian Institution, 1982.99
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Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1815
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 4 3⁄4 x 3 3⁄4 in. (12.0 x 9.5 cm) oval
Credit Line
Transfer from the National Museum of American History, Division of Transportation, Smithsonian Institution
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on paper
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1982.99
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1982.99

Artwork Description

This is a larger miniature than most, in which an unknown artist captured a gentleman’s character by focusing on his serious eyes and firm mouth. Thin, delicate brushstrokes reveal the details of his eyes, the wrinkles of his skin and the strands of his hair, while the dark palette evokes a melancholy mood.