Attr. to JOHN BREWSTER Jr.
Sensitive Portrait of a
Young Man
New England, early 19th century. 

Oil on canvas. The red-haired gentleman painted half-length, in black high collared coat with white vest and tie. As often seen in portraits by Brewster, the young man is rendered with a soft, calm, appealing disposition.

John Brewster Jr. (1766-1854) was a deaf-mute, raised in a highly cultured family with seven brothers and sisters. He worked as an itinerant portrait painter along the New England coast. As a result of his extraordinary concentration, exemplary artistic skills, and especially his ability to “see” (given that he could not communicate verbally with his subjects) he was able to capture unique portraits that revealed his sitters’ nuanced personalities. As described by American Museum of Folk Art: "Brewster was especially sensitive to the sitter's face, emphasizing his or her direct gaze-as a deaf artist, eye contact became a moment of engagement and communication.....Brewster was influenced by the paintings of Connecticut artist Ralph Earl but simplified the settings and introduced broad flat areas of color, and soft, expressive facial features"......

Excellent condition with craquelure and very minor in-painting. Cleaned and lined. Period gilt frame about 22 ¼ inches x 18 ½.

Provenance: Private Northeast collection.

For reference, see A DEAF ARTIST IN EARLY AMERICA, THE WORLDS OF JOHN BREWSTER JR., Harlan Lane; and THE WORLD OF JOHN BREWSTER JR, Fennimore Art Museum