Artwork
John Caflin Southwick, Jr.
John Caflin Southwick, Jr. is an oil painting by the Realist artist George Augustus Baker. It is held in the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
About this work
Overview
George Augustus Baker’s 1870 oil portrait depicts a young boy, identified as John Caflin Southwick, Jr. The work presents the sitter in a white shirt with a ruffled collar and a dark bow tie, set against a uniform background. The painting is part of the collection of the Brooklyn Museum.
Subject & Meaning
The portrait captures the child with a solemn expression, his gaze directed straight toward the viewer, suggesting a formal, perhaps commemorative purpose. The attire and pose reflect mid‑nineteenth‑century conventions for genteel youth portraiture.
Technique & Style
Baker employs oil on canvas to render fine details in the boy’s hair, fabric, and facial features, achieving a realistic likeness. The muted background isolates the figure, emphasizing texture and the subtle play of light on the clothing.
History & Provenance
Created in 1870, the painting entered the Brooklyn Museum’s holdings at an unspecified date, where it remains on display as part of the museum’s American art collection.
Artist & collection
