the collector's folio

John Carlin Most Popular Paintings

The 17 artworks by John Carlin our visitors ask for most, ranked by popularity and presented one by one, with the specification and the price of each hand-painted reproduction.

Edition 2026 · 17 artworks Each artwork painted to order
Linen canvas · Certificate of authenticity · Delivered worldwide John Carlin · 1813 – 1891

Singleton van Buren as a Child

1844 · Smithsonian American Art Museum, Washington, D.C. · original 5 x 4 cm

A delicate 1844 watercolor portrait of a young boy by John Carlin captures a sense of historical intimacy through its soft textures and fine detail, inviting you to explore this exquisite piece of American Romanticism.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 1 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

James Suydam

1859 · original 11 x 9 cm

1859 portrait of James Suydam by John Carlin. A refined classical oil painting featuring a dignified gentleman in rich velvet. Explore this 11x9cm masterpiece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 2 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Singleton van Buren as a Child

1844 · original 6 x 5 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 3 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

Mrs. James Suydam (Charlotte Heyer)

1859 · original 10 x 8 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 4 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

Ellen Mary Brainerd Peck (nee Duffield) (c. 1843-?)

1850 · Harvard Art Museums, Cambridge · original 4.6 x 3.6cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 5 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Lady

1844 · original 9 x 7 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 6 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Little Girl with Doll

1854 · original 6 x 5 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 7 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Mrs. Nicholas Fish (Elizabeth Stuyvesant)

1848 · original 10 x 8 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 8 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Lady

original 5 x 4 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 9 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 35 cm Commission this artwork

The Thompson Children

1846 · original 11 x 9 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 10 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17738 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

After a Long Cruise

1857 · original 51 x 76 cm

John Carlin’s ‘After a Long Cruise’ (1857) captures a vibrant 19th-century harbor scene. Observe realism & theatricality in this detailed oil painting of sailors, merchants, and social interaction. A captivating historical genre piece.

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 11 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17739 × 26 cm Commission this artwork

Same size as the original$26276 × 51 cm Commission at original size

Portrait of a Lady

1850 · original 4 x 3 cm

Admire John Carlin’s ‘Portrait of a Lady’ (1850) – a delicate monochrome miniature showcasing classical portraiture & subtle emotion. Explore this exquisite piece!

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 12 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17731 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Gentleman

1850 · original 3 x 3 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 13 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17730 × 33 cm Commission this artwork

Florine Turner

1845 · original 10 x 8 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 14 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17727 × 37 cm Commission this artwork

The Allen Children

1847 · original 10 x 9 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 15 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

The Allen Children

1847 · original 10 x 9 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 16 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17729 × 34 cm Commission this artwork

Portrait of a Gentleman

1850 · original 3 x 3 cm

Technique: Hand-painted oil on linen canvas
Made: To order, by a trained painter
Popularity: No. 17 of 19 artworks by John Carlin
Delivery: Worldwide, about 5 weeks

from$17733 × 31 cm Commission this artwork

The artist

John Carlin

1813 – 1891

Quick facts

Museums on APSHarvard Art Museums, Smithsonian American Art Museum
Lifespan78 years
Copyright statusPublic domain
Works on APS19
Top 3 worksSingleton van Buren as a Child, James Suydam
NationalityUnited States
Creative periodsmature period

Biography

The Silent Visionary: The Life and Legacy of John Carlin

In the vibrant tapestry of nineteenth-century American art, few figures possess a narrative as profound and uniquely textured as John Carlin. Born in Philadelphia in 1813, Carlin’s existence was defined by a profound silence that did not signify an absence of expression, but rather a heightened state of visual perception. As the first published deaf poet in the United States, his life was a testament to the power of the senses beyond sound. This early experience with deafness instilled in him a singular sensitivity to the nuances of light, gesture, and facial expression—elements that would become the cornerstone of his celebrated artistic language.

Carlin’s journey from a child in Philadelphia to a respected figure in the American art scene was marked by resilience and an unwavering commitment to communication. His early education at the Mount Airy School, which later became the Pennsylvania School for the Deaf, provided him with the foundational tools to navigate a world often inaccessible to those with hearing impairments. It was during this formative period that his talent for meticulous detail began to emerge, eventually leading him to study under the guidance of Thomas Beale. Under Beale’s mentorship, Carlin mastered the delicate art of watercolor and drawing, skills that would later evolve into a sophisticated command of oil painting.

Mastery of Portraiture and the Romantic Spirit

As his technical proficiency grew, Carlin established himself as a premier miniature portraitist, a role that required immense psychological depth. He possessed an uncanny ability to capture more than just a likeness; he sought to translate the very essence of his subjects onto the canvas. His portraits of Philadelphia’s social elite were noted for their remarkable precision and their ability to convey character through subtle shifts in expression and posture. Whether depicting the dignified presence of James Suydam or the tender innocence found in his watercolor Singleton van Buren as a Child, Carlin’s work breathed with a quiet, internal life.

Beyond the intimate scale of miniatures, Carlin embraced the sweeping ideals of the Romantic era. His larger works often explored the dynamism of American life and the sublime beauty of the natural world. In his oil painting After a Long Cruise, one can witness his ability to orchestrate complex scenes of maritime activity, using dramatic lighting and expressive brushwork to evoke the bustling energy of a nineteenth-century harbor. This mastery of atmosphere allowed him to move seamlessly between the psychological intimacy of portraiture and the grand, theatrical narratives of genre painting.

A Legacy of Advocacy and Artistic Significance

The significance of John Carlin extends far beyond the borders of the art gallery. His life was inextricably linked to the burgeoning movement for deaf education and social inclusivity in America. His close collaboration with Laurent Clerc, a pivotal figure in the establishment of Gallaudet University, underscores his role as an advocate for the empowerment of individuals with disabilities. Through his poetry and his art, Carlin bridged the gap between the silent experience and the hearing world, proving that profound communication transcends the spoken word.

Today, Carlin is remembered not only as a pioneer of deaf portraiture but as a vital contributor to the American Romantic movement. His work serves as a window into a bygone era, reflecting the social complexities, historical intimacy, and spiritual contemplations of the nineteenth century. The enduring power of his canvases lies in their ability to speak across the ages, inviting every viewer to witness the world through the eyes of a man who found infinite beauty in the quietude.

Questions & Answers

Which artworks by John Carlin are the most viewed?

The Stats page of John Carlin presents statistics computed from the artist's artworks listed on this website.

Is there a timeline of John Carlin's works?

The artist's Artwork Timeline page presents John Carlin's works ordered by date, year by year.

In which historical period did John Carlin work?

John Carlin worked in the 19th-Century period. The period situates the artist's activity in history.

By the WikiOO.org Editorial Team Updated Sept. 19, 2026

one You choose the size

Standard formats or any custom dimension, matched to the proportions of the original.

two We paint and send a preview

A photo of the finished canvas for your approval before it is shipped.

three Delivered, certified

Rolled, stretched or framed, insured, with a certificate of authenticity.

Commission your John Carlin

Every artwork by John Carlin in our catalog can be painted to order, in the size that suits the room.

All artworks by John Carlin