Portrait of a Gentleman

Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1845, watercolor on ivory, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1963.9.8
Copied Unidentified, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1845, watercolor on ivory, sight 3 3⁄8 x 2 5⁄8 in. (8.6 x 6.7 cm) rectangle, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund, 1963.9.8
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
Unidentified
Date
ca. 1845
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 3 3⁄8 x 2 5⁄8 in. (8.6 x 6.7 cm) rectangle
Credit Line
Museum purchase through the Catherine Walden Myer Fund
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on ivory
Classifications
Keywords
  • Portrait male — unidentified — bust
Object Number
1963.9.8
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/1963.9.8

Artwork Description

In this miniature the sitter’s blue eyes and gentle facial features emphasize a calm composure and intelligence. His combed-over hairstyle reveals his forehead, suggesting his desire to be perceived as honest and intelligent. According to “phrenologists,” who examined the shapes of skulls, specific characteristics of a person’s nature were communicated through the features of the head.