Cornelius Vanderbilt II
1890
John Singer Sargent captured the ultimate Gilded Age power player in this striking 1890 portrait of Cornelius Vanderbilt II. Dressed in a sharp black suit with a crisp white collar and pocket square, Vanderbilt stares out with a cool, confident gaze that practically demands respect. Sargent’s loose, energetic brushstrokes bring a surprising vitality to the dark, moody background, making the subject pop with an almost photographic realism. As one of the wealthiest men of his era, Vanderbilt commissioned this piece to cement his family's legacy, and it remains a masterclass in capturing the swagger of American high society.
Location: Metropolitan Museum of Art
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