Jeptha Homer Wade
Yes, you see them well—these glasses are authentic!
Now, in the age of emojis, they look like they were added by some contemporary art history fan, maybe to make it a meme.
So what's the story behind these now-funky-looking glasses? Nathaniel Olds, the person in this picture, wore the green lenses to shield his eyes from the bright light of Argand lamps, which were popular indoor lights in the early 1800s that burned whale oil and were very bright. There was a concern back then that such intense light might harm people's eyes.
The artist who painted this portrait was more than just a painter. He started the Western Union Telegraph Company in 1854, which made him one of the richest businesspeople in Cleveland. His grandson, Jeptha Wade II, played a big role in setting up the Cleveland Museum of Art. In 1892, as a Christmas present to the city, he even donated the land where the museum was built.
One more thing: according to the Cleveland Museum of Art's website, this painting has a distinguished history of inspiring Halloween costumes in the Cleveland area. I can imagine this!
Speaking of museums... In our DailyArt Shop, you can find a perfect museum-lover accessory; a Handcrafted Art Journal designed to write down your thoughts and feelings about art masterpieces.
P.S. Need a short break from work? In this quiz we hid some elements of famous masterpieces. Can you guess what is missing from them? For more fun art quizzes, see below.