The artwork, entitled “Alexander Metcalf Fisher,” was executed by artist Samuel Morse in 1822. It is rendered in oil on canvas and is associated with the Romanticism movement. This portrait, currently housed at the Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, CT, US, is indicative of the period’s emphasis on individuality and emotion.
The artwork portrays a contemplative figure, presumably Alexander Metcalf Fisher, situated against a dark, tempestuous background. The subject, adorned in academic attire with a black robe and white necktie, appears seated, holding a quill in his left hand while his right hand rests on a scroll placed upon a wooden desk. The presence of a globe beside him signifies intellectual pursuits and scholarly endeavors. The dramatic lighting, contrasting the dark setting with the illuminated figure, enhances the subject’s pensive expression and the intricate details of his face, clothing, and props. The portrait conveys a sense of introspection and intellectual depth characteristic of the Romanticism movement.
