John Cockey, IIIca. 1822-1827
John Cockey was born in 1772 into a prominent Maryland family. His father was an ardent Whig and served as a captain in the Revolutionary War. More about this work
About this work
John Cockey was born in 1772 into a prominent Maryland family. His father was an ardent Whig and served as a captain in the Revolutionary War. The family owned great tracts of land in Maryland, particularly in Baltimore. Philip Tilyard depicted Cockey with a penetrating gaze that suggests a confident and intimidating personality. The blank background draws our attention to the man’s features, particularly the icy color of his eyes.
Text from the Smithsonian American Art Museum.
How it was made
- Oil paint
- Pigment ground in a drying oil, usually linseed. It dries slowly, so painters could blend on the canvas, build up thin translucent glazes, and rework a picture over weeks. Canvas replaced wooden panels in the 1500s because it is lighter and can be rolled.
Philip Tilyard
born Baltimore, MD 1785-died Baltimore, MD 1830
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The Smithsonian American Art Museum has dedicated this image to the public domain under CC0, so anyone may copy, adapt and use it, for any purpose, without asking. Our prints and files are reproductions made from the museum’s image; the museum doesn’t endorse them.
- Object number
- 1970.285
- Credit
- Courtesy of the Smithsonian American Art Museum
- Type
- Painting
- Department
- Painting and Sculpture
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
