4x5 transparency scanned on Hasselblad Flextight X1 by Ed Pollard-2012.

Captain Skeffington Lutwidge

Artist Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828)

Dateca. 1783-84

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions30 x 25 in. (76.2 x 63.5 cm)
Overall, Frame: 36 1/2 x 31 1/16 in. (92.7 x 78.9 cm)

ClassificationsAmerican art

Credit LineMuseum membership purchase

Object number66.34.4

Terms

Man
Gray
Cream
Gold
Yellow
Brown
Black
Navy blue
Blue
Red
Peach
Portrait
London, England

Collections

American Art before 1945

On View

On view

DescriptionThis is an oil on canvas half-length portrait of a man in a navy blue military outfit. It is painted in oval, outlined with a thick brown border. The subject is a middle-aged Captain in the British Navy; he faces the viewer with body turned to the left. His cheeks are ruddy and his blue eyes engage the viewer. The background is atmospheric with various colored clouds, such as gray, blue, black and peach. The frame is four inches of gilded, hand-carved wood.

Label TextGilbert Stuart American, 1755–1828 Captain Skeffington Lutwidge, ca. 1783–84 Oil on canvas A backdrop of wispy clouds gives timeless dignity to this portrait of English naval captain Skeffington Lutwidge (1736-1814). Painted when the Rhode Island-born artist Gilbert Stuart was training in London, it follows a standard formula for Georgian-era portraits: the facial expression is solemn, but the sitter’s eyes meet your gaze, giving a sense of presence to the otherwise formal image. Working later in the United States, Stuart painted George Washington and many wealthy and influential Americans, including Norfolk merchant Moses Myers (1753–1835). Museum membership purchase 66.34.4