F. Ambrose Clark

Robert Henri

1904 · Oil on canvas · The American Wing

This elegant portrait was commissioned by the wealthy family of F. Ambrose Clark (1880–1964), a gentleman jockey and, later, a successful breeder of racehorses. Henri was the leader of the Ashcan School and a mentor to other members. Although he painted some urban scenes of the sort they preferred, he was more active as a portraitist, often, as here, enlisting the style of Diego Velázquez, which had also inspired John Singer Sargent and William Merritt Chase. Naturalistic demeanor, flattened space, broad brushwork, and a monochromatic palette are hallmarks of that style.

Artist

Robert Henri

Date

1904

Medium

Oil on canvas

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Purchase, Stephen C. Clark Jr. Gift, 1982