Man with White Stock

Dateca. 1830

OriginAmerica, Connecticut or New York (possibly)

MediumWatercolor, pencil, and charcoal on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 20 1/8 x 16 1/8in. (51.1 x 41cm) and Framed: 23 5/8 x 19 9/16in.

Credit LineGift of Abby Aldrich Rockefeller

Object number1931.300.1

DescriptionA bust-length subject facing slightly towards the viewer's right against a streaked blue watercolor background. His coat is bluish-black, his white vest outlined in black. His white stock and collar and the facial modeling were done with charcoal or graphite. He has blue eyesband brown hair. Artist unidentified.

The 2-inch cyma reversa frame is black-painted pine with a gold-painted liner and is a period replacement.
Label TextAt least four related examples by this hand have been found, including a pair whose history indicates that the subjects were living in Cross River, Westchester County, New York, when their likenesses were made. The Folk Art Museum's portrait was found not far from there, thus providing a likely general area of activity for the artist. Characteristics of the portraitist's style include a streaked blue watercolor background, the use of pencil and/or charcoal in the modeling of the figure, a slightly elevated placement of the sitter's eyes, and a particular use of highlighting that gives the skin a glistening quality and accentuates features, such as cheekbones.
MarkingsThe primary support bears a watermark of a three-masted ship with two flags, the symbol used by John Butler of Hartford, Conn.
ProvenanceFound in Bridgeport Conn.; Edith Gregor Halpert, Downtown Gallery, New York, NY; Mrs. John D. Rockefeller, Jr., by whom given to CWF in 1939.