Attributed to
JOHN BREWSTER Jr.
Portrait of a Gentleman 
New England, early 19th century. 

Oil on canvas. Painted half-length with the typical simple Brewster background that focuses attention on the sitter. Brewster rendered the clothing in well modeled detail, with black high-collared coat, white vest, and elaborate tie. The gentleman holds an intriguing envelope, with red wax seal. Often a book is seen as a device to communicate literacy, yet the presence of an envelope is very unusual. What could it have held to gain such prominence in his portrait?

John Brewster Jr. (1766-1854) was a deaf-mute, raised in a highly cultured family with seven brothers and sisters. He worked as an itinerant portrait painter along the New England coast. As a result of his extraordinary concentration, exemplary artistic skills, and especially his ability to “see” (given that he could not communicate verbally with his subjects) he was able to capture unique portraits that revealed his sitters’ nuanced personalities. As described by American Museum of Folk Art: "Brewster was especially sensitive to the sitter's face, emphasizing his or her direct gaze-as a deaf artist, eye contact became a moment of engagement and communication.....Brewster was influenced by the paintings of Connecticut artist Ralph Earl but simplified the settings and introduced broad flat areas of color, and soft, expressive facial features"......

Fine condition with touch up around the perimeter. Cleaned and lined. Contemporary gilt frame about 33 x 29 ½ inches; site size (on the larger size for a Brewster half-length) of about 28 inches x 24 5/8.

Provenance: Private Northeast collection. For reference, see A DEAF ARTIST IN EARLY AMERICA, THE WORLDS OF JOHN BREWSTER JR., Harlan Lane; and THE WORLD OF JOHN BREWSTER JR, Fennimore Art Museum