Portrait of Jean Terford David1813 · Study 1916.1979.1

Context from the museum

According to his own inventory, the astonishingly productive Thomas Sully painted more than 2,600 works during his career. Most of these paintings were commissioned portraits, including this one of John Terford David, who had just recently married. French-born David was an American officer who served as a paymaster during the War of 1812. His rank is indicated by the fringed epaulet on his left shoulder and the lack of one on his right. In composing the portrait, Sully ingeniously positioned David's body on an angle to emphasize the single epaulet and downplay the uniform's lack of symmetry.

Museum description reproduced from its CC0 open-access record. Read the original catalog entry.

A detail to notice

Thomas Sully's working motto was "flattery—nothing so sure of success as flattering your portraits."

Observation supplied by the Cleveland Museum of Art.

Read the dimensions before the image

The selected unframed measurement for Portrait of Jean Terford David is 70.5 cm wide and 89.5 cm high, equivalent to approximately 27.8 × 35.2 inches. Dividing width by height gives a format ratio of 0.79:1. The rectangular bounding area is 0.63 square meters; it describes the measured footprint, not the amount of paint or the monetary value.

On an illustrative 300 cm wall, the recorded width occupies 23.5% of the span before adding a frame. A centered placement leaves approximately 114.8 cm on each side before adding a frame. These are calculations by Physical Art For Crypto using museum measurements. They are not the museum’s display recommendations.

Questions to bring to your own collection

With Portrait of Jean Terford David in view, identify one feature you can point to, then distinguish what the museum records from your personal response. Keep its medium, oil on canvas, in your notes when comparing contemporary works.

• Which part of this vertical composition catches your eye first?
• Would a 70.5 cm width still suit the space after allowing for furniture and a frame?
• What surface detail would you need to see in person or in a close photograph?