Pendant Miniature Portrait of Silas Deane

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Pendant Miniature Portrait of Silas Deane

SubjectPortrait of Silas Deane American, 1737 - 1789

PainterAttributed to Charles Willson Peale American, 1741 - 1827

MetalworkerPendant made by Unknown

Date1774-1776

MediumWatercolor on ivory, in gold-plated pendant with a glass front

DimensionsPrimary Dimensions (height x width x depth): 2 3/8 x 1 5/8 x 5/16in. (6 x 4.1 x 0.8cm)

ClassificationsPainting

Credit LineMuseum purchase.

DescriptionMiniature bust-length portrait of a man facing to the viewer's right, inside a gold-plated oval pendant. The man wears a white wig, a red jacket, a white lace collar, and a white waistcoat with orange buttons and blue trim. The background of the portrait is in shades of medium to dark blue. The oval pendant is glass fronted, to display the portrait. It has a flat edge around the glass front, within an engraved beveled edge. The top of the pendant has a loop of metal; two gold rings are attached to that loop, for hanging the pendant on a chain. The back of the pendant is engraved, "Mrs. Wm. C. Alden/ Boston".

Object number1937.35.1

Inscribed"Mrs. Wm. C. Alden/ Boston" is engraved on the back of the pendant.NotesHistorical Note: Mrs. William C. Alden, whose name is on the pendant miniature portrait, was the wife of Silas Deane's great grandson. According to letters in the object file (see Text Entries), the Alden's put this pendant up as collateral for a loan of $25 from R. S. Ely on 29 January 1879. A note written by Ely indicates that he added another $25 on February 1, but that he did receive two checks drawn on the Second National Bank in repayment of the loan. (Hudson 4/6/2007)

Artist Note: According to museum records, the attribution to Charles Willson Peale was made by Charles Coleman Sellers, a leading authority on Peale. (Hudson 4/6/2007)

Historical Note: In the late nineteenth century, this portrait of Silas Deane was believed to have been painted in Paris, France. No subsequent scholarship has found evidence to support this attribution. (Schoelwer and Hudson 4/26/2007)

Construction Note: According to a notation on an old file card, the ivory is backed with a piece cut from an old playing card, a three of hearts.

Subject Terms

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