Portrait of a doctor 1825

Peter Fendi painted this portrait of a doctor in Vienna, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Fendi made this painting with oil paints, a material that allows for careful blending and layering. This is very evident in the smooth transitions of color in the doctor's face and clothes. The oil paint is applied thinly, which gives the painting a smooth, almost polished surface. The handling of the material is incredibly refined, especially in capturing the textures of the sitter's jacket, the sheen of the draped fabric, and the soft folds of his white cravat. The choice of oil paint, and the artist's clear mastery of it, speaks to Fendi's training in the fine arts. However, he also worked as a printmaker and decorative artist, so he was clearly comfortable moving between different material worlds. This portrait invites us to look beyond the subject, and appreciate the skill involved in rendering a likeness with such finesse, reminding us that artistic talent is a form of labor, deserving of recognition and respect.