Mr. Taft

Head and shoulders portrait of a young man with curly brown hair, wearing a black coat with turn-over collar, white vest, white cambric shirt with a high collar and a black neckcloth. The assymetrical window on the back is typical of the period, unfortunately the hair has been lost.

Alvan Clark was self-taught. He worked in the North East United States, being most active in miniature painting between 1836 and 1860. In that year he founded Alvan Clark & Sons in Cambridgeport, which became the leading firm of American telescope makers.