Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Portrait |
Title |
William Trigg |
Catalog Number |
1939.118 |
Creator |
The Guilford Limner |
Date |
ca. 1820 |
Material(s) |
Glass/Ink/Paper/Paint |
Dimensions |
H-8.188 W-6.313 inches |
Description |
This is a fragmented watercolor of William Trigg of Virginia. The portrait is a waist length view of a clean shaven man facing left with longish brown hair and reddish mutton chop sideburns. He has blue eyes and is wearing a blue coat with yellow buttons, blue vest with a red standup collar, white stock and jabot. The background is plain with a dark brown oval surround. Below the portrait, there is lettering that reads "WILLIAM/born D" with little filigrees before and fanciful dots over the i's. |
Notes |
This portrait is attributed to the Guilford Limner. While their identity remains unknown, the Guilford Limner had a distinctive style. Named as such as the majority of their work was rendered in Guilford County, North Carolina, the known work of the itinerant painter dates from 1818 to 1833. Their earliest works are of subjects who lived in the Bluegrass region of Kentucky. Utilizing vibrant watercolors, the artist paid particular attention to their subjects' faces, depicting even the eyelashes. The subject are depicted in colorful clothing and detailed accessories. Below the work, many are inscribed with the subject's name and date. Here, the subject painted in an oval surround is a recognzied early trait of the artist. Historian Sally Gant is quoted as saying, "[The Guilford Limner's] Kentucky works demonstrate a marked evolution in technique and composition over these years, an obvious evolution in style and format." While the subject's name is given as William Trigg of Virginia, definite details of his life are unknown. There was a William Trigg living in Franklin County as early as 1801. |
Collection |
KHS Museum Collection |
People |
The Guilford Limner Trigg, William |
Subjects |
Portrait drawings Portrait paintings Portrayals Clothing & dress Fashion |
Physical Holder |
Kentucky Historical Society - KHS |