Portrait of Benjamin Gerrish (1717-1772)

Details

Descriptive Terms

oil paintings (visual works)
oil painting (technique)
canvas
wood (plant material)
Picture
Portrait
Portrait

Label

Centennial Acquisitions Exhibiton, October 22nd-23rd, 30th-31st, 2010: Boston-born Benjamin Gerrish was a successful merchant who moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, but maintained strong ties to his birthplace. Copley’s portrait depicts Gerrish as a prosperous but unpretentious citizen in his early fifties. John Singleton Copley was by far the most talented and successful American-born artist at work in the colonies in the years leading up to the Revolution.

Inscription

Reportedly a portrait/of Benjamin Gerrish by/John Singleton Copley. Portrait/cut down from original oval/at some earlier date./2/23/60 (Handwritten note in pencil)
New England Historical/and Genealogical Register/for April, 1913/Benjamin Gerrish, brother of Mr./John Barrett, and son of/Captain John and Sarah/(Hobbs) Gerrish, was born/in Boston, 19 Oct: 1717; mar-/ried in Boston, 19 April 1744,/Rebecca Dudley, grand-daughter/of Gov. Joseph Dudley; and/died at Southampton, England,/6 May, 1772. He lived in/Nova Scotia from 1752; and/was of His Majesty's Council/Men from 27 June, 1768. He/left no children./(For further details, see the Register) (Handwritten note in pen)
KF2971 (Handwritten in pink pencil)
#3750 (Carved into back of wooden stretcher)

Additional Identification Number

35.1
746

Maker

Copley, John Singleton, 1738-1815 (Painter)

Dimensions

33 3/4 x 28 3/8 x 1 1/8 (HxWxD) (inches)

Credit Line

Bequest of Frances S. Warrick

Accession Number

2009.22.1

Reference Notes

Published for the National Gallery of Art, Washington

Related Items

Title Portrait of Rebecca Dudley Gerrish (1726-1809) Accession Number 2015.109.1