Portrait of a Gentleman
Jean B. Sel
ca. 1822
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mr. and Mrs. Linden B. Arthur
Accession Number
1978.169
Tags
bust
About this artwork
In the 1820s, gentlemen wore their shirt collars so high that the neck completely disappeared. The cravat could be worn in a wide variety of ways, and here it is shown in what appears to be the âOrientalâ style. The sitterâs hair is cut and combed forward in the romantic style made popular by the English poet Lord Byron.