Name/Title
PortraitEntry/Object ID
2024.16.14Description
Oil on canvas portrait of Colonel William Austine. The Colonel stands in a simple interior space with a pale gray/green wall behind him. He is wearing glasses and his dress uniform with simple rectangular epaulettes, tan gloves, crimson sword belt and black belt over top with gold buckle. He holds his sword in his left hand and black hat with gold band in his right. There is a painting on the wall just behind his left shoulder, and a stack of books and papers on a desk by his left hand. The painting is signed "Scott C CARBEE 1917" in the lower right corner and rests in a simple geometric-carved gilt frame. There is a name plate attached to the bottom center of the frame that reads, "COL. WILLIAM AUSTINE, U.S.A. / BORN JAN. 8, 1815, DIED, SEPT. 4, 1904 / PORTRAIT PRESENTED BY / HON. HENRY D. HOLTON A.M., M.D. / BRATTLEBORO, VT."Type of Painting
EaselArtwork Details
Medium
Oil on CanvasSubject
Colonel William AustineContext
Colonel William Austine graduated the University of Chicago in 1838 and joined the 2nd Dragoons as Second Lieutenant, shortly after this he joined the 3rd Artillery also as Second Lieutenant a rank he held for much of his military career. He served in the Florida War (1838-1842), in the Mexican-American War in the Siege of Vera Cruz (1847), Battle of Cero Gordo (1847), Skirmish of Amazoque (1847), Capture of San Antonio (1847), and the Battle of Churubusco (1847) during which time he was promoted to Captain. He then served in Ft Adams R.I (1848-1849), in the Florida hostilities against the Seminole Tribe (1849-1850), back in Ft. Adams until 1852, Ft. Constitution N.H. (1852-1853), Ft. Wood N.Y. until 1854, 1854-1861 on sick leave. 1861 he served in San Francisco during the Rebellion of the Seceding States as Superintendent for Mustering and Recruiting for the State of Vermont until 1866. In 1865 he was promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel and then Colonel. He retired from active duty after this.
According to the Austine School for the Deaf, in his will, the Colonel specified a sum of $50,000 to create a hospital for "the treatment of strangers or local residents with extraordinary circumstances." According to school history, "five prominent local citizens incorporated the Austine Insititute in 1904." In the end it was the decision of the Vermont Attorney General to open a school for deaf and blind students in 1912.Acquisition
Accession
2024.16Source or Donor
Austine School for the DeafAcquisition Method
TransferMade/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Scott Clifton CarbeeRole
PainterDate made
1917Dimensions
Dimension Description
OverallWidth
40 inLength
56 in