Artwork
Portrait of Master Crosby
Portrait of Master Crosby is an oil painting by John Constable. It dates from 1808 and is held in the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art.
About this work
Overview
John Constable’s oil painting titled Portrait of Master Crosby was executed in 1808. The work is part of the collection of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, where it is displayed as an example of early‑19th‑century portraiture.
Subject & Meaning
The canvas presents a young boy with short, light‑colored hair, dressed in a dark shirt with a white ruffled collar and light‑toned trousers. He stands before a dark, possibly wooded backdrop, his left hand resting on a tree trunk or similar object, and looks directly at the viewer with a neutral expression.
Technique & Style
Constable employs chiaroscuro to model the figure, using contrasts of light and shadow to give the boy a three‑dimensional presence against the deep background. The handling of the oil paint renders the fabric and hair with subtle gradations, emphasizing the sitter’s form.
History & Provenance
Created in 1808, the portrait entered the Philadelphia Museum of Art’s holdings through acquisition (details of the purchase are recorded in the museum’s accession files). It remains in the museum’s permanent collection, providing insight into Constable’s early portrait work.
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Artist & collection
Artist
John Constable (; 11 June 1776 – 31 March 1837) was an English landscape painter in the Romantic tradition.
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