John Vaughn 1823

This is a portrait of John Vaughn, painted by Thomas Sully, sometime in the first half of the 19th century. Portraits like this are so interesting when you consider their making. The artist would have been commissioned, and this painting would have involved a long process of preparatory sketches, sittings with the subject, and the layering of oil paint on canvas. It would have been a labor-intensive, skilled undertaking. Looking closely, you can see Sully's mastery of light and shadow. He builds up the forms of Vaughn's face with subtle gradations of tone. The effect is lifelike, but also idealized, suggesting the sitter's social standing. Even the book that Vaughn rests his hand on denotes education and knowledge. Although we often think of painting as 'high art', it is important to remember the degree to which portraits like this were products of their time, reflecting the values and aspirations of a society built on class and commerce.