United States

In this portrait Hone pauses from his reading, his finger marking his place in the book he has just put down to meet our gaze. The slight twist in his posture also lends a degree of spontaneity to the moment. This portrait was painted when Hone was a young man. He later traveled through Europe and built an impressive art collection. He was a famous diarist, and became active in politics as a speaker and organizer. Later, as mayor of New York, he presided over the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.

In this portrait Hone pauses from his reading, his finger marking his place in the book he has just put down to meet our gaze. The slight twist in his posture also lends a degree of spontaneity to the moment. This portrait was painted when Hone was a young man. He later traveled through Europe and built an impressive art collection. He was a famous diarist, and became active in politics as a speaker and organizer. Later, as mayor of New York, he presided over the opening of the Erie Canal in 1825.

Before painting a portrait, Stuart would observe his sitter in order to determine which side of his or her face would give the best outline of their profile. He would then choose that side to be closer to the viewer’s eye. As a sought-after portraitist, Stuart developed many such techniques during the course of his career. A prolific artist and enterprising businessman, he executed more than 1,100 portraits during his lifetime.

Before painting a portrait, Stuart would observe his sitter in order to determine which side of his or her face would give the best outline of their profile. He would then choose that side to be closer to the viewer’s eye. As a sought-after portraitist, Stuart developed many such techniques during the course of his career. A prolific artist and enterprising businessman, he executed more than 1,100 portraits during his lifetime.

As the nation became a democracy, Americans felt closely linked to the ancient Athenian democracy of the classical past, and a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman history flourished. This reverence for the political and philosophical tenets of Neoclassicism was seen in the fine and decorative arts. In this portrait, the sitter poses in a classical landscape with a deer, recalling the attributes of Diana, goddess of the hunt and protector of wild animals.

As the nation became a democracy, Americans felt closely linked to the ancient Athenian democracy of the classical past, and a renewed interest in ancient Greek and Roman history flourished. This reverence for the political and philosophical tenets of Neoclassicism was seen in the fine and decorative arts. In this portrait, the sitter poses in a classical landscape with a deer, recalling the attributes of Diana, goddess of the hunt and protector of wild animals.

In the 19th century, Americans adopted European fashions to appear cultured, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. This portrait features the sitter’s elegant coat and hat, perhaps adapted from English and French styles that were shared through prints, letters, and imported clothing. Americans who aspired to be fashionable also had to navigate the complexity of maintaining the distinct identity of their new nation.

In the 19th century, Americans adopted European fashions to appear cultured, sophisticated, and cosmopolitan. This portrait features the sitter’s elegant coat and hat, perhaps adapted from English and French styles that were shared through prints, letters, and imported clothing. Americans who aspired to be fashionable also had to navigate the complexity of maintaining the distinct identity of their new nation.

A freed slave and self-taught painter working in Baltimore, Maryland, Joshua Johnson is the earliest-known African American artist. This charming image portrays the daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant. She holds out a biscuit to her dog, who seems transfixed by the offering. The portrait is painted in a manner that brings us down to the young girl’s level — perhaps we view her from the perspective of another child.

A freed slave and self-taught painter working in Baltimore, Maryland, Joshua Johnson is the earliest-known African American artist. This charming image portrays the daughter of a wealthy Baltimore merchant. She holds out a biscuit to her dog, who seems transfixed by the offering. The portrait is painted in a manner that brings us down to the young girl’s level — perhaps we view her from the perspective of another child.