Composition

Some alterations are visible: the size of the hat has been reduced and the face moved to the left; the white collar was painted over the black coat.

Technique

It is on fine weave canvas. It was painted thinly, with areas such as the face rubbed down as part of the painting process, and touched up with a few bolder strokes on the collar and face; it was almost certainly not completed.

Conservation History

According to Freer Gallery files, it was cleaned and 'repaint' was removed in 1921, relined and resurfaced in 1922, resurfaced in 1937, and cleaned, re-relined and resurfaced in 1950. It was cleaned and surfaced in 1951.