Portrait of an Officer
Medium
watercolor on ivory in a contemporary gold frame with plain back
Dimensions
unframed: 6.4 × 5.4 cm · framed: 6.5 × 5.4 cm
Classification
Portrait Miniature
Department
European Painting and Sculpture
Museum
Cleveland Museum of Art
Credit
The Edward B. Greene Collection
Accession Number
1942.1157
Rights
Public Domain
Tags
About this artwork
The unknown sitter has powdered hair, brown eyes, a ruddy complexion, and facial hair stubble. He wears a red military coat with black facings, gold buttons, gold epaulet, a white waistcoat, and frilled cravat. His uniform identifies him as an Indian militia officer, though his precise rank cannot be determined since his left shoulder is not visible. The background is mottled gray. The red of the officer’s coat is also painted in red on the back of the ivory support. Back-painting was a process ...