The artwork is titled “Portrait of a Gentleman” and was created by the esteemed artist William Merritt Chase around the year 1878. This piece, executed in oil on canvas, is an exemplary representation of the Realism movement and falls within the portrait genre. Currently, the artwork resides in a private collection.
The artwork portrays a man with a thoughtful and somewhat introspective expression, against a dark, muted background. His reddish-brown beard and mustache are finely detailed, capturing the texture and color of his facial hair meticulously. The use of light and shadow on the gentleman’s face highlights his features, adding depth and realism to the portrayal. The background is deliberately understated, allowing the viewer’s focus to remain on the subject. The overall composition and technique reflect Chase’s mastery in rendering lifelike human figures, making this portrait a distinguished example of 19th-century portraiture.
