Augustus Washington Clason 1817 - 1820

Editor: This is "Augustus Washington Clason," an oil painting from around 1817-1820 by John Wesley Jarvis, housed here at the Met. There's something so dignified, almost severe, about the sitter's expression, contrasted with the almost soft, blurred edges of the painting. What strikes you most when you look at it? Curator: Isn't he a marvel? Jarvis really captures a certain kind of… well, American ambition, don’t you think? That piercing gaze suggests a man keen on making his mark. But, for me, it’s the treatment of light that’s fascinating. Notice how it softly sculpts his face, but almost seems to avoid harsh shadows, keeping him somehow eternally youthful? Makes me wonder about the conversations Jarvis must have had with his subject. Did Clason have strong opinions about how he wanted to be portrayed? Editor: That’s a great point – the lighting does soften his features, which is interesting considering the era. It also strikes me that, for a portrait painted in the late Romantic or early Realist styles, it's… surprisingly subdued. Almost muted. Was that typical, or a departure? Curator: Subdued is a great word! I think that restraint adds to his air of gravitas. It's a visual manifestation of composure, wouldn't you say? Other portraitists might have been tempted to embellish with richer colors, elaborate settings. But here, Jarvis keeps it minimal. Just the man, his ambition, and…dare I say…a hint of vulnerability in those eyes? I mean, doesn’t it make you want to invent stories about him? Editor: It does! The fact that so much is unsaid kind of invites you in. Well, I’ll certainly be spending some time concocting a few scenarios about Mr. Clason. Curator: As will I!