Figurehead

Elizabeth Fairchild

National Gallery of Art

The sculpture depicts a standing male figure dressed in 19th-century attire. He wears a long cloak over a suit, a high-collared shirt visible at the neckline. In his left hand, he holds a rolled-up document, and in his right hand, a hat with a brim. The sculpture is monochromatic, primarily in shades of grey, possibly bronze with an aged patina. The figure stands on an ornate base resembling carved stone with intricate designs. The proportions suggest that the figure is life-sized.