Description

Description: In this excellent art content autograph letter signed, Huntington writes in full: “I have placed in the hands of Mr. Menger a half-length portrait of Hon Rob. C. Winthrop for the Yale Exhibit. It is the best thing I can get for you, and as it is one of my most successful portraits of so eminent a man & admired Literateur – it is as appropriate as can be for the purpose. – It should be insured for 1075 (it cost very nearly) = and at the close of the Exhibition sent to Mr. Winthrop 145 Beacon St. Boston. – I charged Menger to have it boxed separately – so that the same box might serve to send it home. – In Catalogue please say “Hon Robt C Winthrop” not “portrait of a gentleman”.”

The recipient, Prof. Weir, was no doubt John Ferguson Weir –painter, sculptor, educator– who was, from 1869-1913, Director/Dean of the School of Fine Arts at Yale University.

The portrait’s subject was Robert Charles Winthrop (1809-1894) who served as U.S. Speaker of the House of Representatives (1847-1849) and was President of the Massachusetts Historical Society from 1855-1885.

Daniel Huntington (1816-1906) studied art with Samuel F. B. Morse and Henry Inman. His early works put him in the movement of the Hudson River School painters. He later gained a reputation as a portrait painter, with subjects including: Abraham Lincoln, Martin Van Buren, Chester A. Arthur, William Cullen Bryant, etc.

Letter is written on two sides of an 8″ x 5″ sheet of paper. Item #A01498

Condition: An old repair to a small puncture (hardly touches any text), a 1/2″ square of paper stuck to recto upper left, mailing fold lines, otherwise good condition.