Portrait of Captain Samuel Blodget in Rifle Dress (Primary Title)
John Trumbull, American, 1756 - 1843 (Artist)
This is one of at least two imaginative portraits of Samuel Blodget painted by his fellow Revolutionary War veteran John Trumbull. While this work was likely created in London, when both men lived there after the war, Trumbull depicts Blodget as a vigorous, young solider in the wilderness of North America. To present Blodget as an intrepid player on history's stage, the artist posed him to recall an antique sculpture, the Apollo Belvedere, and various depictions of Diana the Huntress. The highly unnatural and dramatic stance may also reflect then-current trends on the British stage, as the exaggerated dance postures of Italian and French performers became fashionable.
not signed
J. Harwood and Louise B. Cochrane Fund for American Art
Image released via Creative Commons CC-BY-NC
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