Artwork
Portrait of William Gooch.
Portrait of William Gooch. is an oil painting by the American Folk Art artist Ethan Allen Greenwood. It dates from 1816 and is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
Ethan Allen Greenwood, a Boston‑based lawyer‑artist active in the early nineteenth century, executed this oil portrait of William Gooch in 1816. The work exemplifies the American folk‑art tradition and is presently part of the Brooklyn Museum’s collection.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, William Gooch, is shown seated in a chair, dressed in a dark coat over a white shirt, his right hand holding a book. The composition conveys a formal, contemplative presence, underscored by the solemn expression and the restrained setting.
Technique & Style
Rendered in oil on canvas, Greenwood employs a limited palette and straightforward modeling typical of folk‑art portraiture. The dark background and a solitary column behind the figure create a simple yet effective spatial cue, focusing attention on the sitter’s face and hands.
History & Provenance
After establishing his reputation as a portraitist, Greenwood opened the New England Museum in 1818. The painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as a representative example of early American portraiture.
Artist & collection
Artist
Ethan Allen Greenwood (May 27, 1779 – May 3, 1856) was an American lawyer, portrait painter, and entrepreneurial museum proprietor in Boston, Massachusetts, in the early 19th century. He established the New England Museum in 1818.
