Artwork

Portrait of Edmond Sexton, later 1st Viscount Pery (1719-1806)

Portrait of Edmond Sexton, later 1st Viscount Pery (1719-1806), by Gilbert Stuart, oil, 1796
Portrait of Edmond Sexton, later 1st Viscount Pery (1719-1806), by Gilbert Stuart, oil, 1796

Portrait of Edmond Sexton, later 1st Viscount Pery (1719-1806) is an oil painting by the Neoclassicist artist Gilbert Stuart. It dates from 1796 and is held in the collection of the National Gallery of Ireland.

About this work

Overview

This oil-on-canvas portrait depicts Edmond Sexten Pery, an Irish peer, painted by American artist Gilbert Stuart in 1796. It is part of the National Gallery of Ireland's collection.

Subject & Meaning

The subject, seated and turned slightly to the left, wears formal attire consisting of a brown coat and white cravat. His facial expression is characterized by a subtle frown.

Technique & Style

The artist employed chiaroscuro, a technique using strong contrasts between light and dark, to highlight the subject's features. Soft brushstrokes were used to achieve a nuanced representation of skin tones, blending them subtly.

Artist & collection

Portrait of Gilbert Stuart

Artist

Gilbert Stuart

Gilbert Stuart (né Stewart; December 3, 1755 – July 9, 1828) was an American painter born in the Rhode Island Colony who is widely considered one of America's foremost portraitists.