Eleazar Wheelock
PainterAttributed to
Joseph Steward
(American, 1753 - 1822)
SubjectPortrait of
Eleazar Wheelock
(American, 1711 - 1779)
Datelate 18th-early 19th century
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width): 31 1/2 x 27in. (80 x 68.6cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineConnecticut Museum of Culture and History collection
Object number1840.37.0
DescriptionPortrait facing slightly right of a man sitting in a chair upholstered in red beside a table at his left. There is an inkstand on the table, with two quill pens in it. He wears a black robe with a Geneva band, and a white wig. In his right hand, he holds a rolled paper on which is written "The Charter of Dartmouth College."
NotesSubject Note: Eleazar Wheelock was born in 1711, the son of Deacon Ralph Wheelock and his wife Ruth (Huntington) Wheelock. He graduated Yale in 1733, and was licensed to preach in New Haven in 1734 also preaching in West Haven, and then in 1735, was ordained at the North Parish in Lebanon. He opened Moor’s Indian Charity School in 1755, a school for the education of Indians (and whites) who were to go as missionaries among the native tribes. As the school expanded, he though thought it would be best to develop a college, and on 13 December 1769 obtained a charter for Dartmouth College to be located in Hanover, New Hampshire. Wheelock was named its first president. He left Lebanon, and moved with his family to Hanover, where he died on 24 April 1779, at the age of 68. Wheelock had married first on 29 April 1735 Mrs. Sarah (Davenport) Maltby, the widow of William Maltby of Branford. They had six children before she died in Lebanon on 13 November 1746, aged 44. He married second, on 21 November 1747, Mary Brinsmade of Milford. They had five children together before she died on 24 April 1779 aged 68.
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. In 1793, Dartmouth College commissioned Joseph Steward with painting portraits of their founder Eleazar Wheelock, and president of their trustees, John Phillips. This portrait is very likely a study for the completed Dartmouth portrait, so was probably done prior to 1796. (Lee 10/23/2014)
Costume Note: A "Geneva Band" is a white band with two lappets, usually worn by lawyers and clergymen, or sometimes seen on others wearing acedemic dress.
Status
Not on view
Joseph Steward
Joseph Steward
1740-1772
William Blodget