U.S. Senator Thomas Palmer
(1883-1889)

1892
Painted by Lewis T. Ives
Oil on Canvas

Thomas Palmer was a U.S. Senator from 1883-1889. This portrait of Palmer, painted by Lewis T. Ives, is completed in a traditional, classical style. Palmer stands in a simple pose, with one hand at his side and the other holding a pair of eyeglasses in front of his chest. He gazes off to his left, as if unaware of the viewer before him. A long shadow is cast onto the wall behind him, suggesting a light source in front of him and to his right. The majority of the background is covered in what appears to be a dark reddish-brown curtain, though the edges of the curtain are not clearly delineated. On the right side of the canvas, the base of a large, fluted column is pictured, providing a classical architectural element to the portrait. A decorative rug sits below the senator’s feet, adding color to the otherwise dark, simple background.

Palmer is painted naturalistically, with deep wrinkles and circles around his eyes. The lack of background around the man’s head and shoulders encourages the viewer to spend more time observing his facial features, allowing for his identity to be more thoroughly communicated. Though Palmer’s formal attire is mostly black, it is made more exciting to the eye due to the delicate rendering of folds and creases along the man’s arms and chest area – particularly near his left elbow.