Object Record
Images
Metadata
Catalog Number |
58.P.37 |
Object Name |
Painting |
Title |
Portrait of Robert Maskell Patterson |
Artist |
Lambdin, James Reid |
Date |
1850-96 |
Description |
Half-length seated figure, body turned slightly to his left, head facing forward. Subject has medium-short curly brown hair with brown eyes and a rosy complexion. He is wearing a black suit, white shirt, black cravat, and brown coat with the back of collar trimmed with brown fur. There is a gold clasp on his left coat collar. Medium tan background. |
Label |
Robert Maskell Patterson, professor of natural philosophy and director of the United States Mint, was one of the youngest members of the APS, elected in 1809 when he was 22. He served as the Society's Secretary, Vice-President, and President over the years. The Patterson family, never entirely satisfied with his various portraits, asked James Reid Lambdin to combine, along with his own recollection of the subject, the characteristics of all known portraits to create a new likeness. Some members of the family disagreed on the success. One said:"some others who knew my father were gratified both with the likeness and the artistic merit of the portrait. The older children did not share this opinion." |
Medium |
Oil on canvas |
Dimensions |
H-37.25 W-32.5 inches |
Dimension Details |
Framed |
Credit line |
American Philosophical Society. Gift of Robert Patterson Field, 1896. |
Search Terms |
19th Century nineteenth century painting APS President University of Pennsylvania |