TitleSelf-Portrait
Artist
William James Stillman
(American, 1828 - 1901)
Date[1851]
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 20 1/2 × 15 7/8 in.
SignedSigned on verso: "Schnectady 1851"
SubmissionANA diploma presentation, May 7, 1855
Credit LineNational Academy of Design, New York, NY
Object number1214-P
Label TextThe painting was not attributed to Stillman in the 1911 NAD collection catalogue, where it was listed as a portrait of him, but with no artist indicated. The only evidence linking the work to him is the label since covered by remounting, indiciating Schenectady where Stillman was born. However, his autobiography does not indicate that he returned to Schenectady, which his family had left for a residence in New York City upon his graduation.A letter from Samuel Colman dated March 26, 1909, to Miss Nicholas, NAD, in response to a question regarding the authorship of this work stated: "It is possible that F.B. Carpenter painted Mr. Stillman's (portrait), for he painted mine at that time."
It should be noted that the broad stroke employed in this work is uncharacteristic of Stillman, and the eyes of the sitter are expressively directed outward to an object of interest - an uncharacteristic expression in a self-portrait.
