Portrait of a Gentleman
1793
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Margaret Brennan
Accession Number
2012.21
Tags
About this artwork
Although the identity of the sitter is unknown, clues within James Peale's miniature reveal his social standing. The white cravat around his neck, fashionable among wealthy men in the late eighteenth century, indicates that he was interested in the latest clothing trends. The man's confident gaze meets our own, telling us that he is assured of his place in society. The exquisite detail, seen in the irises of his eyes and the embroidery on his shirt, all rendered with thin, delicate brushstrokes,...
About the Artist
James Peale
James Peale was an American painter born in 1749, the younger brother of the more famous Charles Willson Peale, and a member of one of the most remarkable artistic families in the history of American art. Trained largely by his brother, James worked for many years in Charles Willson's shadow, assisting with portraits and miniatures in the Philadelphia studio before developing his own independent p...