Painting
- Title:
- Judge John Pickering
- Object Name:
- Painting
- Object ID:
- 1913.008.01
- Creator:
- Unknown
- Date:
- circa 1795
- Description:
- Miniature portrait of John Pickering (1738-1805), unknown artist, c. 1795. Watercolor on ivory. Bust-length oval portrait of a man facing left; head turned toward viewer. Sitter has long white hair tied in a queue and blue eyes. He is wearing a black coat, black waistcoat, and white cravat with frill. Blue background. Typed inscription on case reverse: "Hon. John Pickering". Oval pink gold case with convex glazing.
- Material:
- Skeletal
Ivory
Metal
Glass - Dimensions:
- H-1.5 W-1.25 inches
- Provenance:
- Commissioned by John Pickering's son-in-law, Judge William K. Atkinson, and was enclosed in a gold bracelet. Pickering's daughter, Abigail Atkinson, gave the bracelet to her granddaughter, Charlotte K. A. Copp. Given to Pickering's daughter, Mrs. Lucretia Lyman of Portsmouth, NH. Donated by her grandson, John P. Lyman, to NHHS in 1913, along with a ring (1913.008.02), with the condition that the trustees agree that Pickering was insane and so was unjustly impeached as a Federal Judge.
John Pickering was born in 1738 in Newington, NH. Graduated from Harvard in 1761. After college, he was interested in religion but changed to studying law. Admitted to the bar; he practiced in Greenland, but shortly afterwards moved to Portsmouth where he became distinguished. Honorary member of the Mass. Humane Society, and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences. Dartmouth conferred upon him the degree of L.L.D. He was a delegate to the convention for forming the state Constitution in 1783, Senator of the legislature in 1790, Chief Justice of the NH Supreme Court in 1795. Suffered mental derangement a few years after and was removed from office. Married Abigail Sheafe. Died in Portsmouth April 11, 1805. - Credit Line:
- Gift of John P. Lyman
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