Miniature portrait of Sally Foster Otis (1770-1836)

Details

Descriptive Terms

miniatures (paintings)
watercolor (paint)
ivory (tooth component)
gilt bronze
velvet (fabric weave)
Painting

Label

In her 1804 portrait, Sally Foster Otis, wife of Harrison Gray Otis - who served as a US senator and mayor of Boston - wore a carnelian cross on a string of pearls. Renowned for her beauty and sparkling conversation, Mrs. Otis was the toast of Washington society.
In "Cherished Possessions"

Inscription

Ink: "Sally Foster Otis born Janry 21 1770 / wife of Honble. Harrison Gray Otis" Mark: "FE" Engraved: "Susse. Fres" (Ink, Mark and Stamp)

Associated Person

Otis, Harrison Gray, 1765-1848
Otis, Sally (Foster), 1770-1836

Associated Building

Associated With Harrison Gray Otis House, First House (Boston, Mass.),

Additional Identification Number

3369
1947.783 (digital)

Maker

Malbone, Edward Greene, 1777-1807 (Artist)

Location of Origin

Boston, Massachusetts, United States, New England

Dimensions

6 x 5 1/4 x 3/4 (HxWxD) (inches)

Credit Line

Gift of Miss Sophia H. Ritchie

Accession Number

1947.783

Exhibition Notes

"Art and Commerce in Early New England," presented by Bank of Boston, 1984; "Hidden Treasures from Elegant Eras," Historic Jewelry from the Collections of the Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities presented by Shreve, Crump & Low, September 15 - November 30, 1995; "Cherished Possessions: A New England Legacy," Society for the Preservation of New England Antiquities, July 2003 to October 2005; "Jewelry at Historic New England," Online exhibit presented by Historic New England launched September 30, 2007 at www.historicnewengland.org/jewelryhistory/.

Reference Notes

This miniature is illustrated in Nylander, Richard, "The Magazine Antiques," June 1975, 107: 1139; Carlisle, Nancy, "Cherished Possessions," 2003: 206-208; Fales, Martha Gandy, "Jewelry in America," p. 124;

Places

Massachusetts (United States)
Boston (Suffolk county, Massachusetts)

Related Items

Title Miniature of Harrison Gray Otis Accession Number 1947.782
Title Cornelian Necklace Accession Number 1967.58