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This small portrait of an unknown sitter sitting close to the picture plane probably dates from before the Depression of the 1930’s. Lockman’s use of thick, warm color and heavy glazing contributes to the appearance of luxury.

DeWitt Lockman was a renowned painter of landscapes, genre, and historical scenes, but especially portraits in early 20th century New York. A native of Brooklyn, he also painted at his parents’ estate in Windham, Connecticut.

With supportive parents, Lockman began painting at the age of four and, at age 10, was the youngest exhibitor ever to have his work exhibited at the National Academy of Design. His only formal training was in his teens, when he studied briefly with James N. Beard, Nathan Bickford and William Sartain at the Academy.

His style, however, was most influenced by the work of Robert Henri and other members of the “Ashcan School”, who sought painterly freedom in depicting scenes of everyday life. However, in Lockman’s case, his subjects were more likely to be members of New York society than ordinary Americans engaged in the drudgery of work and stolen amusements.

Lockman was himself a member of New York society: he was a Trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1949-1957) and The New-York Historical Society (1925-1957), among many other institutions, and was the Director of The Municipal Art Society (1933-1935). He was a member of most of the art societies prevalent at the time and was the founder and vice-president of The National Association of Portrait Painters (1912-1925.)

He was widely exhibited in the first half of the 20th century and won numerous professional medals. He was so popular as a portraitist that he commanded $3,000 for an oil portrait in the depths of the Depression. His work is the collections of numerous institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Yale University Gallery, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and The Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum .

There is an unfinished sketch on the verso of this painting.

This small portrait of an unknown sitter luxuriating on a chaise lounge probably dates from before the Depression of the 1930’s. Lockman’s use of thick, dark color and heavy glazing contributes to the appearance of luxury.

DeWitt Lockman was a renowned painter of landscapes, genre, and historical scenes, but especially portraits of early 20th century New Yorkers. A native of Brooklyn, he also painted at his parents’ estate in Windham, Connecticut.

With supportive parents, Lockman began painting at the age of four and, at age 10, was the youngest exhibitor ever to have his work exhibited at the National Academy of Design. His only formal training was in his teens, when he studied briefly with James N. Beard, Nathan Bickford and William Sartain at the Academy.

His style, however, was most influenced by the work of Robert Henri and other members of the “Ashcan School”, who sought painterly freedom in depicting scenes of everyday life. However, in Lockman’s case, his subjects were more likely to be members of New York society than ordinary Americans engaged in the drudgery of work and stolen amusements.

Lockman was himself a member of New York society: he was a Trustee of The Metropolitan Museum of Art (1949-1957) and The New-York Historical Society (1925-1957), among many other institutions, and was the Director of The Municipal Art Society (1933-1935). He was a member of most of the art societies prevalent at the time and was the founder and vice-president of The National Association of Portrait Painters (1912-1925.)

He was widely exhibited in the first half of the 20th century and won numerous professional medals. He was so popular as a portraitist that he commanded $3,000 for an oil portrait in the depths of the Depression. His work is the collections of numerous institutions, including The Metropolitan Museum of Art, The Yale University Gallery, The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, and The Isabella Stuart Gardner Museum .

There is an unfinished sketch on the verso of this painting, seen in the photo on the right.