Collection Highlights
Dr. John Cheesman and Family with Guests: Silhouette
1840
Z.2567
Black prepared paper cut-outs, laid on beige paper with graphite, brown ink and wash, and white gouache, laid on canvas
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Museum Collections
Luce Center
plaque
Title
plaque
Object name
Plaque commemorating Washington Irving
Date
1890-1910
Medium
Dark green/black patinated bronze
Dimensions
Overall: 36 1/4 x 33 1/4 x 1 1/2 in. ( 92.1 x 84.5 x 3.8 cm )
Description
Rectangular cast iron plaque with molded egg-and-dart border; bas-relief portrait of Washington Irving at upper center flanked by dates and above inscription.
Credit Line
Gift of Mr. Alfred Van Santvoord Olcott, Former President of the Hudson River Day Line
Object Number
1949.176
Marks
molded: "1783 1859/ WASHINGTON IRVING/ AN EMINENT AMERICAN WRITER/ WHO LIVED ON THE HUDSON/ LOVED IT AND IMMORTALIZED/ ITS LEGENDS AND ITS HISTORY"
incised: at lower right corner: "V. D. Brenner Sc"
Gallery Label
According to the accession records, this plaque was mounted in the Hudson River steamboat "Washington Irving" of the Hudson River Day Line. The designer was Victor B. Brenner (1871-1924), a Russian artist who came to New York in 1890, and the writer of the inscription was Charles W. Eliot. When the ship sank in the Hudson, the plaque was salvaged by divers.
Due to ongoing research, information about this object is subject to change.