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Catalog Data

Subject:
Fitall, John  Search this
Fitall, Mrs. John  Search this
Henry, Joseph 1797-1878  Search this
Smithson, James 1765-1829  Search this
Roberts, James 1753 -c. 1809  Search this
Board of Regents  Search this
Smithsonian Institution Building (Washington, D.C.)  Search this
Oxford University  Search this
Date:
January 11, 1850
Category:
Chronology of Smithsonian History
Notes:
Image is the Smithson Portrait, National Portrait Gallery, object number NPG.96.28: http://npg.si.edu/object/npg_NPG.96.28.
Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1849, p. 46, 51.
Annual Report of the Smithsonian Institution for the year 1877, p. 9.
Summary:
The Board of Regents authorizes Smithsonian Secretary Joseph Henry to purchase a small portrait painted by James Roberts of Mr. James Smithson whose bequest founded the Smithsonian The portrait is now in the possession of Mrs. John Fitall, widow of a servant of the late Mr. Smithson. On June 1, 1850, Henry reports that the painting has been received from England. In the 1877 Annual Report, Henry lists all the existing portraits of Smithson. He describes this one as a small full-length picture that represents Smithson in the costume of a student at Oxford University. This portrait is now on display in the Crypt Room of the Smithsonian Institution Building or "Castle."
Contact information:
Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu
Topic:
Accessions  Search this
Art objects  Search this
Exhibitions  Search this
Portraits  Search this
Museums--Acquisitions  Search this
Secretaries  Search this
Students  Search this
Data Source:
Smithsonian Archives - History Div
EDAN-URL:
edanmdm:siris_sic_313