Captain Robert Calder
c. 1787/1790
Medium
oil on canvas
Dimensions
overall: 92.1 x 71.8 cm (36 1/4 x 28 1/4 in.) framed: 109.9 x 89.5 x 7 cm (43 1/4 x 35 1/4 x 2 3/4 in.)
Classification
Painting
Department
CAB
Museum
National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
Credit
Andrew W. Mellon Collection
Accession Number
1954.1.8
Art Historical Context
This engaging portrait of Captain Robert Calder was painted in oil on canvas by Lemuel Francis Abbott around 1787 to 1790. The work measures 92.1 by 71.8 centimeters and is presented in an elegant frame that complements its formal character. As part of the National Gallery of Art’s Andrew W. Mellon Collection, the painting exemplifies the refined portrait tradition of late eighteenth-century Britain. Oil on canvas was a favored medium at the time, valued for its ability to capture subtle textures, rich tones, and a sense of lifelike presence. Abbott’s careful handling of the medium brings dep...