Celebrating The American Wing: American Portraits | Explore & Learn

Eakins's portrait of his brother-in-law is part of a late series of lifesize standing male portraits. The dark figure against a light neutral ground derives from Diego Velásquez, whose works the artist had studied on trips to Madrid in 1869 and 1870. The work is an archetypical Eakins portrait, distinguished by a profound probing of the subject's character. In its time, it was deemed curious for its lack of customary embellishments but noted for its simplicity, vigor, and expression of character. Louis N. Kenton (1865–1947) was briefly married to Elizabeth Macdowell (1858–1953), sister of Eakins's wife, Susan. The title associated with this portrait, The Thinker, is inscribed on the reverse, apparently by Susan Eakins.

Roll over the image with your mouse to explore details of this painting in greater depth.

Related Works: 1 2 3

Object Menu

Detail 1

Full-screen image (28K)

The Thinker: Portrait of Louis N. Kenton, 1900
Thomas Eakins (1844–1916)
Oil on canvas; 82 x 42 in. (208.3 x 106.7 cm)
John Stewart Kennedy Fund, 1917 (17.172)

printing instructions

Photograph Credits