Portrait of a Gentleman

James Sanford Ellsworth, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1850, watercolor on paper, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.13
James Sanford Ellsworth, Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1850, watercolor on paper, sight 3 142 34 in. (8.27.0 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer, 1999.27.13
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of a Gentleman
Date
ca. 1850
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
sight 3 142 34 in. (8.27.0 cm)
Credit Line
Bequest of Mary Elizabeth Spencer
Mediums
Mediums Description
watercolor on paper
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait male — unidentified — waist length
Object Number
1999.27.13

Artwork Description

These miniatures display James Sanford Ellsworth’s unique approach to painting his sitters. They are shown in profile, seated in a Victorian armchair with their hands crossed. The chair appears to dissolve into a swirling arabesque, with a “clover-leaf” halo surrounding the sitter’s head and cloudlike forms in the background.

Works by this artist (1 item)

Janet Echelman, 1.8 Renwick, 2015, knotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting and wind movement above printed textile flooring, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by the American Art Forum, 2017.7, © 2015, Janet Echelman
1.8 Renwick
Date2015
knotted and braided fiber with programmable lighting and wind movement above printed textile flooring
On view

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Date2017
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Miguel Luciano, Pa-lan-te, 2017, neon, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase made possible by Marianna and Juan A. Sabater, 2020.25.2, © 2017, Miguel Luciano. photo: Jason Wyche
Pa-lan-te
Date2017
neon
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