William Axtell

John Wollaston

ca. 1749–52 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

Wollaston’s arrival in New York from London in 1749 introduced to the colonies a new style of portraiture characterized by rich, brightly colored fabrics and sprightly, informal poses. The prominent West Indian merchant William Axtell (1720–1795) ordered this portrait for the larger of his two New York homes: the country place called Melrose Hall in Flatbush, Long Island (now Brooklyn). During the Revolutionary War, Axtell was commissioned by the British as a colonel for the corps of Long Island Loyalists. His American holdings were confiscated in 1784, after he fled New York for England.

Artist

John Wollaston

Date

ca. 1749–52

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Clarence Dillon, 1976