Portrait of a Man and Child

American 19th Century

National Gallery of Art

The image shows an adult and a child, posed together, in a portrait from the waist up. The adult is seated, with their right arm around the child. The adult has short, neatly-combed dark hair, deep-set eyes, and a serious expression. They are dressed in a dark suit jacket, a white shirt, and a bow tie. The child, also seated, has long light hair that is combed back. They are wearing a light-colored dress with frilled sleeves and dark patterns on the front. The adult’s hand rests on the arm of the chair, which is upholstered in a richly patterned fabric. The photograph has an ornate golden frame with intricate scrolling patterns typical of antique framing. The background is plain, putting the focus on the subjects.