Skip to main content
Museum purchase, 2022.55.1, Connecticut Historical Society, Photo courtesy of Kevin J. Tulimier…
Governor John S. Peters
Museum purchase, 2022.55.1, Connecticut Historical Society, Photo courtesy of Kevin J. Tulimieri, Nathan Liverant and Son

Governor John S. Peters

Subject (American, 1772 - 1858)
Painter (American, 1794-1804 - after 1859)
Date1829
MediumOil on canvas in original molded and gilt frame
DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (frame height x width): 54 1/2 × 39 1/2in. (138.4 × 100.3cm)
ClassificationsPainting
Credit LineMuseum purchase
DescriptionPortrait of Governor John S. Peters (1772-1858) of Hebron, Connecticut. Painted by Reuben Rowley in 1829.

An oil on canvas half-length portrait of Governor John S. Peters (1772-1858) of Hebron, Connecticut, shown seated and facing to the left. He is wearing a black jacket and vest, and a white ruffled shirt with stock tie and high pointed collar. His left hand is tucked in his vest and his right hand is resting on a small red and black paint decorated table and holding a scroll of paper. Next to his hand on the table is a book with a gilt decorated spine, a book with yellow paper, and a small fluted inkwell with a tall white feather pen. Behind the Governor is a large red curtain with a floral damask pattern held back with two large red tassels, a white marble column with a bulbous compressed disk base, and a marble window sill. The view out of the window is a landscape scene showing St. Peters Church, the Governor's white Georgian home with four end chimneys, and Hebron Center with a rainbow in the sky above. The landscape shows a views looking towards Hebron. The portrait is held in the original molded pine and gilt decorated frame. It is stamped on the reverse by the artist "R. Rowely, Limner, 1829" in multiple locations.
Object number2022.55.1
NotesArtist Note: Governor John S. Peters' Account Book Ledger D, page 181, includes an entry for "Reuben Rowley, Painter" from December 1828 through October 1829, showing payments totaling $75.00. The account was settled on October 10, 1829, showing the signature of both the Governor and the artist. This ledger can be found in the Connecticut Historical Society collection under Ms 102138.
On View
Not on view