Painting

Title:

Charles Sumner

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1953.006

Creator:

Kimball, S. H.

Date:

circa 1900

Description:

Portrait of Charles Sumner (1811-1874), by S. H. Kimball. Oil on canvas, c. 1900. Half-length portrait of man in profile, facing right. Sitter has curly gray hair, gray sideburns, and brown eyes. He is wearing a black coat and waistcoat, gold watch fob on waistcoat, white shirt with standing collar and black bow tie. Dark gray background. Paper label with printed and pencil inscription: "Charles Sumner / by S. Kimball / FROM / [HAS]TINGS & DAVENPORT/ BUTTERNUT, OAK, MAHOGANY / GOLD GILT PICTURE FRAMES. / No. 8 HAMILTON PLACE / [ ] Tremont, opp. Park Street Church." Gilded gesso over wood frame, exterior floral and foliate carving, interior beaded trim.

Material:

Textile
Canvas

Dimensions:

H-24 W-20 inches

Provenance:

Charles Sumner was a U.S. Senator and abolitionist, born Jan 6, 1811, in Boston, MA. Attended Boston Latin School, Harvard University and Law School, graduating in 1833. Practiced law, lectured at Harvard Law School, wrote legal articles, spent two years in Europe learning languages, government, and jurisprudence. In 1851, he entered the Senate, elected by Free Soilers and Democrats; he opposed slavery violently on all occasions, standing for absolute human equality. He was attacked by Rep. Preston S. Brooks of South Carolina, beaten over the head with a heavy walking stick; it took 3 1/2 years to recover, then he returned to the Senate. Became chairman of the committee on foreign relations and did much to keep the U.S. from war with France and Great Britain during the Civil War. He died March 11, 1874, after a day in the Senate.

Credit Line:

Gift of Richard S. Meryman

People:

Sumner, Charles, Kimball, S. H., Meryman, Richard S. (1882-1963)

Subjects:

Abolitionist movement, Abolitionists, Democrat, Free soil movement, Lawyers, Politicians, Portrait paintings, Portraits, Senators (U.S.), Sumner, Charles