Portrait of William Dunlap

The 26 Most Famous William Dunlap Paintings, Each One of a Kind

Updated October 2026 · ranked by our popularity score (searches, visits and orders for each work) · 26 works by William Dunlap in our catalogue

In short

Elizabeth Linn Brown (1806) is the William Dunlap painting that draws the most eyes; the original belongs to the National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.. After it, the eye goes to Major David Van Horne (1790) and Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry) (1795). Among the 26 works of William Dunlap in our catalog, these 26 are the most famous, each a unique original presented with its year, its museum and the reason it endures.

1766 – 1839, Perth Amboy Most works: New York Historical Society
Elizabeth Linn Brown (1806) by William Dunlap1. Elizabeth Linn Brown 1806 Major David Van Horne (1790) by William Dunlap2. Major David Van Horne 1790 Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry) (1795) by William Dunlap3. Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry) 1795

Top 10 paintings by William Dunlap, through the gallery's eye

1
Elizabeth Linn Brown (1806) by William Dunlap

Elizabeth Linn Brown

1806 · Watercolor · National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.

This portrait miniature, executed around 1806, captures Elizabeth Linn Brown in a three-quarter view. The sitter meets the viewer's gaze with a quiet, steady presence. Her golden-blonde hair and warm skin tones provide a soft contrast to the cool, muted palette of the background. She wears a white garment, rendered with a luminous quality that suggests the delicate texture of fine fabric. The composition is contained within an oval frame,…

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William Dunlap's famous paintings, numbers 11 to 26

11Hetty Sayre (Mrs. Moses Judah) (1818) by William DunlapHetty Sayre (Mrs. Moses Judah)1818 · Cincinnati Art Museum 12Moses Judah (1818) by William DunlapMoses Judah1818 · Cincinnati Art Museum 13Christ Rejected (1822) by William DunlapChrist Rejected1822 14Self portrait (1825) by William DunlapSelf portrait1825 · Metropolitan Museum of Art 15William Townsend McCoun (1786–1878) (1833) by William DunlapWilliam Townsend McCoun (1786–1878)1833 · New York Historical Society 16William Sidney McCoun (1813-1873) (1832) by William DunlapWilliam Sidney McCoun (1813-1873)1832 · New York Historical Society 17John Adams Conant (1829) by William DunlapJohn Adams Conant1829 · Metropolitan Museum of Art 18Mrs. John Adams Conant (1829) by William DunlapMrs. John Adams Conant1829 · Metropolitan Museum of Art 19George Spalding (1829) by William DunlapGeorge Spalding1829 20Elizabeth Chandler Putnam (1826) by William DunlapElizabeth Chandler Putnam1826 · Finnish National Gallery 21Commodore Isaac Hull by William DunlapCommodore Isaac HullDallas Museum of Art 22Anna Hart, Mrs. Isaac Hull by William DunlapAnna Hart, Mrs. Isaac HullDallas Museum of Art 23Portrait of Mrs. DeMotte by William DunlapPortrait of Mrs. DeMotteRhode Island School of Design Museum of Art 24American Landscape: Trunk Series (1981) by William DunlapAmerican Landscape: Trunk Series1981 · Metropolitan Museum of Art 25American Landscape Trunk Series (1981) by William DunlapAmerican Landscape Trunk Series1981 26The Dunlap Family (1788) by William DunlapThe Dunlap Family1788 · New York Historical Society

The subjects that held William Dunlap's eye

The four subjects that come back most often in these originals, each with its finest example.

American art 3 works

Self portrait (1825), William Dunlap #14 Self portrait 1825 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Elizabeth Chandler Putnam (1826), William Dunlap #20 Elizabeth Chandler Putnam 1826 · Finnish National Gallery The Dunlap Family (1788), William Dunlap #26 The Dunlap Family 1788 · New York Historical Society

Portrait 2 works

Elizabeth Linn Brown (1806), William Dunlap #1 Elizabeth Linn Brown 1806 · National Portrait Gallery Elizabeth Chandler Putnam (1826), William Dunlap #20 Elizabeth Chandler Putnam 1826 · Finnish National Gallery

Miniature art 2 works

Self portrait (1825), William Dunlap #14 Self portrait 1825 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Elizabeth Chandler Putnam (1826), William Dunlap #20 Elizabeth Chandler Putnam 1826 · Finnish National Gallery

19th century 2 works

Self portrait (1825), William Dunlap #14 Self portrait 1825 · Metropolitan Museum of Art Elizabeth Chandler Putnam (1826), William Dunlap #20 Elizabeth Chandler Putnam 1826 · Finnish National Gallery

The museums that keep William Dunlap's originals

The 8 museums that hold the most of the paintings on this page.

Museum City Works by William Dunlap Paintings from this list
New York Historical Society, New York CityNew York Historical Society New York City 5 Frances Meadowcroft Hodgkinson (Mrs. Asa Worthington II), William Coleman (1766-1829), William Townsend McCoun (1786–1878)
National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.National Portrait Gallery Washington, D.C. 4 Elizabeth Linn Brown, William Dunlap self-portrait, Joel Barlow
Metropolitan Museum of Art, New YorkMetropolitan Museum of Art New York 4 Self portrait, John Adams Conant, Mrs. John Adams Conant
Cincinnati Art Museum, CincinnatiCincinnati Art Museum Cincinnati 2 Hetty Sayre (Mrs. Moses Judah), Moses Judah
Dallas Museum of Art, DallasDallas Museum of Art Dallas 2 Commodore Isaac Hull, Anna Hart, Mrs. Isaac Hull
Detroit Institute of Arts, DetroitDetroit Institute of Arts Detroit 1 Major David Van Horne
Walters Art Museum, BaltimoreWalters Art Museum Baltimore 1 Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry)
Cleveland Museum of Art, ClevelandCleveland Museum of Art Cleveland 1 Mary Fairlie Cooper

William Dunlap across the decades: one unique original for each

Works per decade

Pick a decade to see the original that defines it.

William Dunlap's paintings: questions for the gallery

What is the single most famous work of William Dunlap?Reveal the answer

Elizabeth Linn Brown (1806), National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.. Major David Van Horne (1790) and Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry) (1795) come next.

At what age did William Dunlap create Elizabeth Linn Brown?Reveal the answer

40 years old: Elizabeth Linn Brown dates from 1806, and William Dunlap was born in 1766.

Which ten paintings by William Dunlap are the most famous?Reveal the answer

Elizabeth Linn Brown, Major David Van Horne, Ann Brunton, the actress (Mrs. Rob Merry), Mary Fairlie Cooper, William Dunlap self-portrait, Joel Barlow, Charles Brockden Brown, Frances Meadowcroft Hodgkinson (Mrs. Asa Worthington II), William Coleman (1766-1829) and Samuel Griffin. The ranking above gives each one's year and museum.

How many works by William Dunlap are known?Reveal the answer

Our catalog holds 26 works by William Dunlap, dated from 1788 to 1833.

Where can the most famous William Dunlap originals be seen?Reveal the answer

Mostly in New York Historical Society (New York City), National Portrait Gallery (Washington, D.C.) and Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York). The museum table above lists them all.

During which period did William Dunlap create the best-known paintings?Reveal the answer

In 1820s: 6 of the 26 works on this page were made then, Christ Rejected among them.

Which famous William Dunlap painting is the earliest, and which the latest?Reveal the answer

On this page, the earliest is The Dunlap Family (1788) and the latest William Townsend McCoun (1786–1878) (1833).

What subjects did William Dunlap favour?Reveal the answer

American art (3), Portrait (2) and Miniature art (2), across the 26 works on this page.

What William Dunlap originals can I see at the New York Historical Society?Reveal the answer

Frances Meadowcroft Hodgkinson (Mrs. Asa Worthington II), William Coleman (1766-1829) and William Townsend McCoun (1786–1878): the New York Historical Society, New York City holds 5 of the works on this page.

William Dunlap: a portrait of the artist

William Dunlap: A Pioneer of American Theater and Art

Early Life and Education

  • Born: February 19, 1766, in Perth Amboy, New Jersey.
  • Dunlap was the son of an army officer wounded at the Battle of Quebec in 1759.
  • He demonstrated artistic talent early on, producing a portrait of George Washington in 1783 while staying at Rockingham in Rocky Hill.
  • He later pursued formal art training under Benjamin West in London and briefly with Abraham Delanoy in New York.

A Career in the Theater

  • Upon returning to America in 1787, Dunlap dedicated himself almost entirely to the theater for eighteen years.
  • He became a pivotal figure in the burgeoning American theatrical scene, managing two of New York City’s most prominent theaters: the John Street Theatre (1796–98) and the Park Theatre (1798–1805).
  • Dunlap was not only a manager but also a prolific playwright, producing over sixty plays, many adaptations or translations from French and German works.
  • Notable Plays: The Father (1789), André (1798), The Virgin of the Sun (1800).

Return to Painting and Artistic Development

  • Economic necessity prompted Dunlap to resume painting in 1805, eventually becoming a full-time painter by 1817.
  • His artistic style encompassed portraiture and landscape painting, often reflecting the elegance of Rococo and Neoclassical influences.
  • He focused on capturing the likenesses of prominent individuals and scenes of American life during the Federal period.

Major Achievements and Historical Significance

  • Historical Record: Dunlap’s most significant contribution lies in his three-volume History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States (1834).
  • This work remains an invaluable resource for understanding the development of art, collecting practices, and artistic life in colonial and Federal America.
  • Founding Member: In 1825, he was one of the founders of the National Academy of Design and served as an instructor at its school.
  • Dunlap’s multifaceted career—as a theater manager, playwright, and artist—demonstrates his broad cultural impact on early America.

Legacy

  • William Dunlap's work provides crucial insights into the artistic and theatrical landscape of the late 18th and early 19th centuries in the United States.
  • His historical writings continue to be essential for scholars researching American art history.
  • He is remembered as a true Renaissance man, contributing significantly to multiple facets of American cultural life.
All 26 works by William Dunlap →