Governor Henry P. Baldwin
(1869-1973)

1894
Lewis T. Ives
Oil on Canvas

This portrait of Governor Henry P. Baldwin by Lewis T. Ives exemplifies the classical style, formal portrait. Baldwin stands upright and extends his left hand slightly to rest on the book beside him. He has a serious, critical expression as he looks ahead, just past the viewer. Baldwin is painted in a naturalistic fashion, in that Ives does not hesitate to record his under-eye circles, his wrinkles, or the unevenness of his nose. The artist’s use of highlights and shadows in the governor’s jacket and vest creates a sense of elegance in an otherwise unembellished ensemble. 

Ives does not leave visible brushstrokes behind in this piece; instead, he uses refined, precise strokes to eliminate any trace of his hand. The background of this portrait, like those of many Ives paintings, is kept simple to direct the viewer’s attention toward the face and hands of the sitter. The rusty red to black gradient that runs across the background, however, unifies the piece by pulling together Baldwin’s black clothing and the red spinal detail of the book beneath his palm. The sharp contrast of the governor’s attire and the red shade behind him gives the portrait an almost baroque feel. The overall darkness of this piece is reflected in the treatment of its frame, which was bronzed to create a duller finish than the gold frames popular amongst other pieces in the collection.