The artwork, titled “Portrait of Lewis Allen Dicken (l.a.d.)”, was created by the artist George Caleb Bingham around the year 1869. Executed in oil on canvas, this piece belongs to the artistic movements of Romanticism and Naïve Art (Primitivism). The genre of the artwork is portraiture.
The artwork features a dignified middle-aged man seated in an armchair, dressed in formal attire consisting of a dark suit, white shirt, and black necktie. His composed expression and direct gaze are framed by dark, neatly kept hair. The background of the painting is subdued with an olive-green hue, drawing the viewer’s focus to the subject. The presence of a column on the right side of the composition adds a classical element to the setting. The man’s pose, particularly the placement of his hand on the arm of the chair, conveys a sense of calm authority and refinement. The meticulous detailing and rich color palette are indicative of Bingham’s skill and the stylistic characteristics of both Romanticism and Naïve Art.
