Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1790, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.5
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1790, watercolor on ivory, sight 2 5⁄8 x 2 1⁄8 in. (6.7 x 5.4 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1975.5
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1790
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 2 5⁄8 x 2 1⁄8 in. (6.7 x 5.4 cm) oval
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1975.5
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1975.5

Artwork Description

In this miniature the unknown artist concentrated on this sitter’s facial features, whereas the coat and cravat appear with less detail. During the reign of George III in England, powdered wigs and natural hair were worn in “pigtail queues” and men’s coats had a shawl-like cut at the collar. In the sitter’s portrait, remnants of hair powder appear on his collar and the bow in his hair, indicating that he followed the English fashion.