Reson B. Crofft
AMERICAN (1809 - 1977)
Young Boy with Dog
Circa 1840-45
Oil on canvas
30 x 25 inches
Note:
Crofft is a classic “plain painter”, intrigued with costume detail and forthright in his use of color, which is applied to emphasize the contours of the figures standing against a neutral background. This portrait of a young boy with his dog is typical of the artist’s work, especially the modeling and contouring of the figure, and the dramatic gaping pose of the dog, whose attentive upturned snout recalls the natural sublime to be seen in certain mid-nineteenth century lithographs. The portrait also features Crofft’s signature use of primary colors, set in high contrast, to enhance the figure’s presence. - Art Historian Estill Curtis Pennington