Zachariah Schoonmaker1815/1818
John Vanderlyn painted this in 1815/1818, aged about 40. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC. More about this work
About this work
The image shows a man depicted from the waist up, positioned slightly turned to the side yet facing the viewer directly. He has a composed expression with defined facial features, including a high forehead, strong eyebrows, prominent cheekbones, and a clean-shaven face. His hair is dark and curly, styled away from his forehead. He is dressed in a dark coat featuring a double-breasted design with gold buttons, complemented by a high-collared, white cravat intricately tied at his neck. In the background, there is a subtle, dark, greenish hue.
Description from the National Gallery of Art.
John Vanderlyn painted this in 1815/1818, aged about 40. It is now at the National Gallery of Art in Washington, DC.
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.
John Vanderlyn
American, 1775–1852 · Born and died in Kingston, New York.
Rights and the museum’s record
Public domain. The National Gallery of Art 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
- 1942.8.36
- Credit
- Courtesy National Gallery of Art, Washington
- Type
- Painting
- Licence
- CC0 1.0 Universal
- Museum record
- See it on the museum’s site
