Governor John T. Rich
(1893-1897)

c. 1897
Painted by Percy Ives
Oil on Canvas

This portrait of Governor John Rich, painted by Percy Ives, demonstrates Percy’s modern take on traditional, classical portraiture. Rich stands in a basic, straightforward pose. His left hand hangs at his side, holding rolled up documents, while his right hand rests on a pile of books atop the desk beside him. Rich looks directly at the viewer with a neutral expression. His clothing is almost completely black, aside from the collared shirt he wears underneath his suit. The background is simple: a desk covered in books and documents, a matching chair, and a decorative carpet set against a relatively plain wall. The darkness of the wall directly behind Rich’s head, paired with the brightness of his white collar, draws the viewer’s attention toward his face.

While these elements are not unusual for classical portraiture, Percy’s approach to painting the piece makes him different than traditional artists like his father, Lewis Ives. Percy paints with an alla prima style that requires a quicker, more spontaneous approach to applying, blending, and layering paint. This style leaves behind more evidence of the artist, as demonstrated in Rich’s face. Though Rich is painted naturalistically, Percy’s brushstrokes and the layering of paint can be seen in several areas of the man’s face. Using the alla prima approach was believed to better capture the essence of a sitter, as the artist must paint the person’s likeness in a more impulsive, lively manner.

Location: Floor 2, North Wing, House Floor