Painting

Title:

Matthew Thornton

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1925.017

Creator:

Onthank, Nahum B. (1823-1888) -- Artist

Place of Origin:

Boston, MA

Date:

circa 1880

Description:

Portrait of Matthew Thornton (1714-1803), by Nahum B. Onthank (1823-1888), c. 1880. Oil on canvas. Bust-length portrait of a man, facing left. Sitter has long brown hair, and brown eyes. He is wearing a maroon coat and waistcoat, and white cravat. Green background. Singed in lower left corner: "N.B. Onthank / Boston". Brass nameplate: "MATTHEW THORNTON. / N.B. ONTHANK." Gilded gesso over wood frame, floral exterior molding, foliate cove.

Material:

Textile
Canvas

Dimensions:

H-24.1 W-20.25 inches

Provenance:

Matthew Thornton, Signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Hampshire. Physician, statesman. Born in Ireland, 1714, emigrated to America 1718, settled in Mass. Studied medicine and went to Londonderry, NH, to practice in 1740. In 1745, he was under surgeon in the Louisbourg expedition; became a colonel in the militia. In 1758, was a member of the legislature from Londonderry. In 1760, he married Hannah Jack. He was president of the provincial congress of 1775 and chairman of the committee of safety. During the Revolution he was a speaker of the house, a member of the council, and president of the constitutional convention. In 1776, he signed the Declaration of Independence as representative to the Continental Congress. He was appointed Associate Justice of the Superior Court 1776-1782; served in State Senate 1784-86. He moved to Merrimack 1780. He died June 24, 1803, age 89 years.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Collection

People:

Thornton, Matthew (1714-1803), Onthank, Nahum B. (1823-1888)

Subjects:

Portrait paintings, Portraits, Physicians, Medicine, Statesmen, Militias, Judges, Senators (N.H.)