Skip to main content

19 Century American Portraits

Recent Sales

Portrait of Abraham Lincoln, Charles Brownell 19 Century Oil American Painting
By Charles De Wolf Brownell
Located in Rome, Italy
published the book The Indian races of North and South America, a complete treatise and illustrated on the
Category

Antique 1860s American American Classical Paintings

Materials

Canvas

Get Updated with New Arrivals
Save "19 Century American Portraits", and we’ll notify you when there are new listings in this category.

19 Century American Portraits For Sale on 1stDibs

An assortment of 19 century american portraits is available on 1stDibs. Finding the ideal contemporary, modern or Post-Impressionist examples of these works for your living room, whether you’re looking for small- or large-size pieces, is no easy task — start by shopping our selection today. These items have been produced for many years, with earlier versions available from the 18th Century and newer variations made as recently as the 21st Century. Adding a colorful piece of art to a room that is mostly decorated in warm neutral tones can yield a welcome change — see the 19 century american portraits on 1stDibs that include elements of gray, brown, black, blue and more. Many versions of these artworks are appealing in their rich colors and composition, but Jack Mitchell, Willard Dixon, McKenney Hall, Ben Fenske and (after) Henri Matisse produced especially popular works that are worth a look. The range of these distinct pieces — often created in paint, oil paint and fabric — can elevate any room of your home.

How Much are 19 Century American Portraits?

Prices for pieces in our collection of 19 century american portraits start at $1 and top out at $850,000 with the average selling for $3,000.

Charles De Wolf Brownell for sale on 1stDibs

Charles De Wolf Brownell was born in Rhode Island in 1822 and grew up in Hartford, Connecticut. He studied law and pursued a career as a lawyer from 1843 to 1853. He abandoned his law practice after discovering his passion for landscape painting, which he realized during sketching trips he took with artist Henry Bryant in the Connecticut River Valley. He then trained with local artists Julius Theodore Busch and Joseph C. Ropes. In 1857, Brownell worked in a studio in Hartford and relocated to New York City in 1860. He became acquainted with Hudson River School painters, such as Frederic Church and John Frederick Kensett, and was quickly immersed into the New York art scene. He exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1861, 1862, 1864 and 1865. In 1863, he exhibited at the Brooklyn Art Association, where he showed both American and Cuban landscapes. His work is represented in many public collections throughout the country, including the Wadsworth Atheneum, CT; the New Britain Museum of American Art, CT; and the Princeton University Art Museum, NJ.

(Biography provided by Driscoll Babcock Galleries)

Finding the Right Decorative-art for You

Antique, new and vintage decorative art is crucial to personalizing your interior.

Bringing art into your home will help you create a warm and welcoming atmosphere, whether you are expecting to regularly host guests for cocktails in your living room or you are inclined to soak up some “me time” on weekends by curling up with a book in your library. After all, a room isn’t quite complete until you hang some art on the walls.

Choosing a piece of art for your interior is a matter of finding something that resonates with you. You should also consider what will work with your current decor. Keep in mind that a wide range of objects counts as decorative art — antique and vintage prints, paintings, wall-mounted sculptures and more. There is so much to choose from! And art can feel as deeply personal with the vintage posters that promoted your favorite classic films as it can with framed photographs of your loved ones.

Decorative art can set the mood for a room and will typically make for great conversation. When you find wall decor and decorations that speak to you, why not introduce them into your space? It will give you and your guests the opportunity to meaningfully engage with the art every time you see it. You can play with different styles, eras and colors. Mix and match pieces to integrate a refreshing pop of color or create a theme by dedicating a room to a color palette or certain time period. A great way to tie your layout together is to choose wall art that complements your decor and color scheme.

Folk art is an interesting category for its wide range of works across various media and the array of textures it can offer. Paper art is another versatile option because it will be easy to find a home for portraits, collages, drawings and other works in your space. With decorative paper art, you can also get creative with how you arrange your wall art. There are plenty of options that include hanging the works salon-style.

On 1stDibs, find a constantly growing collection of antique and vintage decorative art today.