Augustus Schell (1812–1884)

Eastman Johnson's portrait of Augustus Schell (1885) depicts a prominent New York Democrat and political figure — Schell had been chairman of the Democratic National Committee and a major figure in Tammany Hall politics. Johnson's portrait commissions ranged across the political spectrum, and his ability to capture the confidence and social authority of powerful men made him a sought-after portraitist for both political and business leaders. Schell's connection to Democratic machine politics made his portrait a document of the political culture that dominated New York City in the Gilded Age.

Johnson renders the political figure with his characteristic psychological directness — the portrait conveying the authority and self-possession of a man accustomed to political power. His tonal modeling creates a portrait of substance and presence without the artifice of academic idealization. The dark suit, characteristic of American political portraiture, frames the face as the center of psychological interest.