Painting

Title:

Martin Koszta of Smyrna

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1884.003

Date:

circa 1855

Description:

Portrait of Martin Koszta of Smyrna, by unknown artist, c. 1855. Oil on canvas on aluminum. Three-quarter length standing portrait of a man, facing slightly right. Sitter has short black hair, black beard, and brown eyes. He is wearing black coat and waistcoat, white shirt with diamond-shaped button, and black cravat; two white flowers on the right of his coat. Sitter's right hand is visible and thumb rests in coat's buttonhole. Table with red cloth and two books right. Window right background; in the window is a seascape with the American ship, St. Louis, and green foliage on left. Unsigned. Paper label with typed inscription on aluminum backing: "Portrait of / MARTIN KOSTA of SMYRNA / American Ship "St. Lewis" in background / by Unknown Artist / (Old label read 'Martin Kosta U.S.A. Smyrna')/ Restored and mounted on sheet aluminum / um, 1961. At Vose Galleries , Boston." Additional paper label with type inscription on aluminum: "Martin / Kosta / of Smyrna". Gilded gesso over molded wood frame.

Material:

Textile
Canvas
Aluminum

Dimensions:

H-30 W-24 inches

Provenance:

During Franklin Pierce's administration, Martin Koszta, a Hungarian exile and naturalized citizen of the U.S., was seized while on business in Smyrna, Turkey, in July 1853 by order of the Austrian consul general and confined on board an Austrian warship, Hussar.

Captain Duncan N. Ingraham, whose sloop-of-war, U.S.S. St. Louis, was in the Smyrna harbor, threatened to fire upon the Austrian vessel unless Koszta was returned to U.S. control. The Austrian consul general released Koszta to the French consul. Soon after his release, Koszta returned to the United States.

Credit Line:

Gift of d'Andria

People:

Koszta, Martin (1819-1858), Pierce, Franklin (1804-1869)

Subjects:

Businessmen, Diplomacy, Exiles, Immigrants, Immigration, Portrait paintings, Portraits, Prisoners, Ships