Charles Willson Peale Painting of Thomas Say

Item — no container: 1

Identifier: ANSP-2011-046

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

When the Portrait was first processed its origin was unknown. However an email from ANS Curatorial Assistant of the Department of Entomology to the ANS Library and Archive Director gives some clue into the possible insight into its history. The following quote is from this email, "My thinking, all circumstantial at this juncture, is that: 1. Rembrant Peale had just died in 1860, and seems a timely gesture of remembrance of both R. Peale and Say to the Society. 2. AES moved to the Academy when the new building in 1876 was completed, and the Academy became the steward of the Society's library, materials being comingled therefore." The full content of the email may be viewed in the Academy of Natural Science Archives' Control File.

This note was attached to the Rembrant Peale's painting of Thomas Say but after researching Rembrant's painting and finding proof...

Dates

1819

Creator

Peale, Charles Willson, 1741-1827 (Artist, Person)

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Say was an American naturalist, entomologist, malacologist, and carcinologist, and the author of the first American books on insects and shells. He was a taxonomist and is considered to be the father of descriptive entomology and conchology in the United States and one of the founding fathers of the Entomological Society of America. The society maintains several series of publications and awards that are named after him. Say was a founding member of the Academy of Natural Sciences and began his work on American Entomology there. He began a tradition of expeditions to collect specimens of insects, starting the tradition of reports based on original research. Say became the Academy's first curator and gave lectures on entomology. He bequethed his library and collections to the Academy.

Extent

1 item(s) : 1 painting on canvas: oil, framed ; 61 x 51 cm

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Painting was sent to The Metropolitan Museum of Art for conservation on March 18, 1982.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Presented by Mrs. Joseph E. Mitchell; 1887 (Coll. 286 finding aid). However, in the AES minutes on 4/14/1862, no. 66 notes, "A portrait of Thomas Say was presented by Horace B. Mitchell."