Name/Title
Van Cortlandt GentlemanEntry/Object ID
VC.58.24 a-bDescription
Portrait sketch of a young man, with face in profile to his left, seated, with right leg crossed over left knee: hair, seemingly not wig, drawn back with slight wave into queue secured with bow-knotted dark ribbon; delicately rendered profile, with long straight nose, slightly over-lapping upper lip, rounded chin, which seems V.C. characteristic; cravat high at throat, ruffled at bosom, of figured light material; lapel-less waistcoat, with buttons, cut long, with inverted V at front bottom, has buttonless rounded-V shaped flap; coat, cut very long, has turned-down collar, eight large buttons at right side, three-buttoned rounded-V shaped pocket flap; wide cuffs, buttoned, with ruffles at wrists showing; breeches, tight-fitting, with hip-pocket, button at outside of knee, fasten at knee with unornamented small buckle; stocking of light-colored fabric, figured lozenge and scroll shapes at ankles; shoes, dark, with moderate heels, pointed toes, unornamented buckle; figure holds, in both hands, a sealed envelope, or envelope-type case; chair in which figure is seated is Chippendale side chair, with cupid's bow eared cresting rail (mostly hidden by figure, and sometimes interpreted as being a cocked hat under his arm!), slip seat upholstered in striped fabric, scalloped flat apron, cabriole legs with ball-and-claw feet; pencilled thin rectangular line framing picture.
Frame: wooden molding, black-painted; reeded at outside, cyma curve, with inner figured gilt molding; original.Artwork Details
Medium
Wood, Pen & ink, Paper, Wood, Pen & ink, PaperSubject Person or Organization
Gilbert Van Cortlandt, Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721-1814)Collection
Van Cortlandt Manor Object CollectionMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
UnknownAttribution
MakerNotes
Dates: 1768 - 1799
Date made: r. 1768 - 1799Dimensions
Dimension Description
SightHeight
9-1/8 inWidth
5-1/8 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 9 1/8 x 5 1/8 in. (23.2 x 13 cm)Dimension Description
FramedHeight
12 inWidth
8 inDepth
3/4 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 12 x 8 x 3/4 in. (30.5 x 20.3 x 1.9 cm)Condition
Notes
Overall Analysis: Cleaned, remounted, February, 1959, The Old Print Shop, NYC.
Remarks: February 1959Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Van Cortlandt FamilyNotes
Former ownerPerson or Organization
Gilbert Van CortlandtNotes
SubjectPerson or Organization
Pierre Van Cortlandt (1721-1814)Notes
SubjectPerson or Organization
Mrs. Robert P. BrowneNotes
Former ownerGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
On basis of hair-style, clothing, and the chair, the picture dates from c.1770 or after that. In that year, Pierre V.C. the first was 49, and Gilbert, 13. Certainly, the figure is of a young man; and the details of dress, etc., would indicate the sketch to have been executed anywhere from 1770 to the date of Gilbert's death, 1786. It seems almost certain that the subject was indeed Gilbert.Note Type
General NoteNote
Van Cortlandt family possessionNote Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Unit 1 Slot 9