Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1805, watercolor on paperboard, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1979.152
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1805, watercolor on paperboard, sight 2 7⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.3 x 5.7 cm) oval, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1979.152
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1805
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 2 7⁄8 x 2 1⁄4 in. (7.3 x 5.7 cm) oval
Credit Line
Museum purchase
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on paperboard
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1979.152
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1979.152

Artwork Description

Most portrait miniatures were painted in watercolor on ivory, but here the artist used paperboard, a less expensive material that was probably requested by the sitter. The gold frame and warm yellow background contrast with the black paperboard, emphasizing the gentleman’s profile view and his fashionable high-collared coat. His straight posture and stern gaze suggest a serious personality, while the slightly disheveled hair implies a more romantic side.