Joel Barlow
Medium
Drawing
Classification
Drawing
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Mr. and Mrs. Joel Barlow
Accession Number
NPG.76.31
Tags
Art Historical Context
In 1798, American artist John Vanderlyn created this intimate portrait drawing of Joel Barlow, a multifaceted figure of the early American Republic. Vanderlyn, known for his Neoclassical style influenced by his later studies in Paris, captures Barlow with classical elements like a column and draped fabric, evoking the grandeur of antiquity and underscoring the subject's intellectual stature. As a drawing—likely preparatory or standalone—this work highlights Vanderlyn's skill in rendering form and expression with graphite or ink on paper, a medium prized for its immediacy and detail in portrait...