Painting

Title:

Lewis Downing

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1945.006

Creator:

Dayton, Helena Smith (1879-1960)Artist

Date:

1945

Description:

Portrait of Lewis Downing (1792-1873), by Helena Smith Dayton (1879-1960), 1945. Oil on canvas. Bust-length portrait of a man, facing slightly left. Sitter has blue eyes, gray hair and sideburns, and round metal-rim eyeglasses. He is wearing a blue coat with black velvet coat collar, high white collar, and black silk cravat. Graduated green background. Copy of an engraved portrait of Lewis Downing. Signed lower right: "HELENA SMITH DAYTON". Gilded gesso over molded wood frame.

Material:

Textile
Canvas

Dimensions:

H-24 W-20 inches

Provenance:

Lewis Downing was a carriage maker, born June 23, 1792, in Lexington, MA. Learned the trade from his father and brother. Moved to Concord, NH, in May 1813, and began making wagons and chaises. Married Lucy Wheelock of Concord, MA, 1815. In 1826, arranged with J. Stephens Abbot to come to Concord to build three coach bodies. He became a partner in Downing & Abbott in 1828. The firm was dissolved in 1847; L. Downing & Sons building new shops, Abbot continuing at the old shop. The two firms operated until Mr. Downing retired in 1865, and his sons joined Abbot in Abbot, Downing & Co. Lewis Downing died March 10, 1873, age 81.

Credit Line:

New Hampshire Historical Society Purchase

People:

Downing, Lewis (1792-1873), Dayton, Helena Smith (1879-1960)

Subjects:

Downing, Lewis, Portrait paintings, Portraits, Businessmen