Unidentified Gentleman

Thomas Ball

1890 · Marble · The American Wing

This oval portrait of an unknown sitter is one for only a few relief compositions that Ball executed during his long career. The middle-aged and bearded sitter, who appears in contemporary dress, was most likely one of many visitors to the Villa Ball in Florence. So far it has not been possible to match the face to a name recorded in Ball’s guest book (Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, D.C.).

Artist

Thomas Ball

Date

1890

Medium

Marble

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift of Enrique Foster Gittes, 1978