Governor Gurdon Saltonstall
PainterAttributed to
Joseph Steward
(American, 1753 - 1822)
SubjectPortrait of
Gurdon Saltonstall
(American, 1666 - 1724)
Datelate 18th-early 19th century
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 42 1/2 x 40in. (108 x 101.6cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1840.34.0
Description[Three quarter length portrait of a middle aged man wearing a curly wig, dressed in a brown coat with buttons and gilt braid on pockets and cuffs, black vest, white shirt with band and ruffled cuffs. He stands beside a table on which are two books. His right hand is on his hip. His left hand points downward. Black frame with gilt molding.]
NotesSubject History: Clergyman, Governor of Connecticut 1708-1724. Born Haverhill, Massachusetts, March 27, 1666, eldest son of Nathanial and Elizabeth (Ward) Saltonstall. Harvard 1684. Ordained minister of Church of New London 1691. Md. (1) Jerusha, daughter of James Richards of Hartford. She died Boston July 25, 1697. Md. (2) Elizabeth, daughter of William Roswell of Branford and Catherine (Russell) Roswell. She died New London September 12, 1710. Md. (3) Mrs. Mary Clarke, daughter of William and Mary (Lawrence) Whittingham, and widow of William Clarke of Boston. She died Boston Jan 23, 1730. Subject was asked to leave the pulpit and assume the Governorship of Connecticut, which he did in 1708 and was reelected annually until his death. One of the leaders in the movement that led to the charting of the Collegiate School (later Yale College) in 1701 and he did much to have the institution situated at New Haven instead of Hartford. He practically introduced the printing press to Connecticut, as he established a printing firm in New London and had printing press in his house in 1709. Died of apoplexy on Sep. 20 1724 in New London. He had 5 children by his first wife; 5 by his second.This portrait is a copy from the original housed at Yale University Art Gallery in New Haven, Connecticut.
Date Note: According to museum records, Joseph Steward operated a museum at the Old State House in Hartford, Connecticut as early as 1796, where it is known he would also display his paintings. (Lee 10/23/2014)
Status
Not on view
Joseph Steward
Henry B. Caldwell
