John Schanck

Periodca. 1816 - 1821

MediumPastel on paper

Dimensions21.26 × 17.75 in. (54 × 45.1 cm)

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Mrs. J. Amory Haskell, 1941

Object number1638

DescriptionThree-quarter length portrait of a young male, perhaps between the ages of nine and fourteen, facing right. He has full, rounded cheeks, large brown eyes, and brown hair brushed forward and curling around his face. He wears a black coat, a white shirt, a yellow vest with off-white spots edged in brown, and a small black string bow tie. The boy's left arm supports his right hand, in which he is holding a leather-bound book with blue edges. The background consists of brown tones with reddish undertones. The paper is mounted on wooden stretchers and lined with a newspaper sheet bearing a date of 11 April 1814. It might be from a copy of the True American, based on an examination of typefaces and layout style.
Curatorial RemarksWilliams produced portraits of two of the silversmith’s brothers, DeLafayette and Daniel. It is likely that the artist created images of young John’s parents, but these have not been identified.NotesThis self-possessed and handsome young boy is John Schanck (b. 1807), son of John Schanck (1774-1864) and his wife Micha Van Nuyse (d. 1825). Young John’s father was a noted Monmouth County silversmith. Born in Monmouth County, the elder Schanck learned the silver trade in New York City from his older brother, Garret. He worked with his brother in New York until 1799, when he moved his family back to Middletown Point, now Matawan.

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