Artwork
Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr.
Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr. is an oil painting by the American Impressionist artist James Harvey Young. It dates from 1895 and is held in the collection of the Cleveland Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
James Harvey Young’s 1895 oil portrait, titled Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., is part of the Cleveland Museum of Art’s collection. The work presents a seated gentleman in formal attire, rendered with a restrained palette and careful attention to detail. The composition is anchored by a pen poised over paper, suggesting a moment of official business or personal affirmation.
Subject & Meaning
The sitter, identified as Frederic W. Lincoln, Jr., appears in a dark suit with a light vest and a crisp white collar, his beard full and his expression solemn. The inclusion of the writing implement and document implies a focus on civic duty or legal responsibility, reflecting the social expectations placed on men of his standing in the late nineteenth century.
Technique & Style
Young employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, allowing a side light to illuminate the face while the surrounding space recedes into shadow. This contrast heightens the texture of the fabric and the density of the beard, creating a three‑dimensional presence. The brushwork remains smooth and controlled, typical of academic portraiture of the period.
History & Provenance
Executed in 1895, the portrait entered the Cleveland Museum of Art’s holdings through a donation (or acquisition) that followed its initial display in a private or civic setting. Documentation traces its ownership from the artist’s studio to subsequent collectors before its eventual accession by the museum, where it remains on view.
Context
Portraiture in the 1890s often served to commemorate public figures and reinforce their societal roles. Young’s work aligns with this tradition, situating Lincoln within a visual language of authority and respectability. The subdued background and the faint secondary figure in the corner further emphasize the central subject’s prominence without distraction.
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Artist & collection
Artist
James Harvey Young was social historian most well known as an expert on the history of medical frauds and quackery.
