Early 19th Century Crayon Manner Portrait of a Gentleman

This item is a framed portrait of a gentleman, executed in a style consistent with the early 19th-century 'crayon manner' or charcoal drawing. The subject is depicted in a three-quarter view, featuring characteristic Regency or Federal period aesthetics, notably the high-collared white cravat and dark overcoat. The artwork is rendered in monochromatic tones of brown and grey charcoal or chalk on paper, which has developed a significant aged patina and uniform yellowing over time. The man's hair is styled with long sideburns and combed forward in the Napoleon-influenced fashion of the circa 1810-1830 era. The piece is housed in a period-style wooden frame with a dark stained finish, showing visible wear, surface abrasions, and thinning of the finish at the corners and edges. The portrait is double-matted; the inner mat is a simple tan border while the outer mat shows light foxing or spotting, which is common for paper of this age. No artist signature is visible on the front of the work. The overall craftsmanship suggests a skilled hand, typical of itinerant portraitists of the 19th century who focused on capturing anatomical realism and social status for the middle and upper-class patrons before the widespread availability of photography.