Self-Portrait (Thomas Sully, 1850)

Identification of the Self-Portrait

The gaze meets us directly in Self-Portrait, a work where the artist Thomas Sully turns his brush upon his own likeness. Created in 1850, this painting captures the man himself, Thomas Sully, as he presents his identity to the viewer. It is a moment frozen in oil, where the creator and the subject become one and the same.

This piece belongs to the genre of portraiture, a category that defines its very purpose. As a portrait, it seeks to document a specific presence, focusing the viewer's attention entirely on the man behind the eyes. The work exists as a formal study of character and appearance, a quiet encounter between the painter and the mirror.

Visual Composition and Subject Matter

An older gentleman occupies the center of the frame, his presence commanding the space with a stern, unwavering gaze. He stares into the distance, his eyes fixed on something beyond the viewer's sight. White hair and a full beard frame a face that suggests the gravity of a professor or the seasoned authority of a statesman. He is dressed formally in a suit and tie, a choice that reinforces this sense of dignified stature. The weight of his expression suggests a moment of deep, perhaps even heavy, contemplation.

A deep red curtain hangs in the background, providing a sudden surge of color that adds a sense of physical depth to the scene. This backdrop pushes the subject forward, making his silhouette more pronounced against the textured fabric. The composition is not entirely solitary; two other figures appear within the work, though they remain secondary to the central man. One person is positioned near the top left corner, while another figure rests at the bottom right. These smaller, less prominent figures create a sense of a larger, populated world existing just outside the immediate focus of the portrait.

Technical Details and Physical Support

The artist works in oil on canvas, a medium that allows for the subtle layering of tones across the surface. This specific piece measures 76.84 × 63.98 cm (30 1/4 × 25 3/16 in.), though the outer dimensions reach 98 x 85 cm. The texture of the paint captures the light, giving weight to the man's features and the deep red of the curtain behind him.

When viewed within its frame, the work occupies a space of 97.79 × 85.41 × 10.8 cm (38 1/2 × 33 5/8 × 4 1/4 in.). The depth of the frame provides a slight shadow, pushing the painted scene forward into the viewer's space. Every brushstroke contributes to the physical presence of the subject, making the portrait feel immediate and tangible.

Provenance and Current Collection

The painting resides within the permanent collection of the National Gallery of Art. It carries the specific identification of accession number 2015.19.112. This presence in the gallery ensures the work remains available for study and observation within its current home.

The history of this piece is tied to the Corcoran Collection. It enters the museum's care as a gift of William Wilson Corcoran. This lineage connects the portrait to the legacy of the Corcoran gift, preserving the artist's likeness through this specific institutional lineage.