Portrait of a Gentleman Netting Partridges

Arthur Devis

National Gallery of Art

The painting shows a man standing in a lush green landscape. He is elegantly dressed in an 18th-century outfit, consisting of a dark blue coat, a red waistcoat and knee-length breeches, with white stockings and black shoes. He appears to be holding strings or cords. To his right, guns and game birds are placed on the grass. A river can be seen flowing gently in the mid-level of the painting. Close by, there are tall trees with dense foliage, painted with detailed leaves. In the distance across the river, a house is visible nestled amongst more trees, and the landscape extends into softly rolling hills. The sky is pale blue with light clouds, complementing the serene, verdant palette of greens and browns that dominate the scene.