Susan Elizabeth Griggs Dewey

Painting

Vermont Historical Society

Name/Title

Susan Elizabeth Griggs Dewey

Entry/Object ID

1989.23.3

Description

Oval portrait of a woman seating wearing a blue gown with a pink central bodice and black, fur shawl. Her dark hair is curled close to her head and held in a chin-length style and she has a small smile. Her dress is embellished with self-fabric ruffles along the center edges. She is draping her right arm on a white marble table and loosely clasping her hands in front of her.

Type of Painting

Easel

Artwork Details

Medium

Oil

Subject Person

Dewey, Susan Elizabeth Griggs (1816-1886)

Context

Susan Dewey lived in Montpelier and was the mother of Spanish-American War hero Admiral George Dewey.

Acquisition

Accession

1989.23

Source or Donor

Gay, Emily Shipman Howland Mansfield (1907-1996)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Credit Line

Susan Howland estate

Made/Created

Date made

circa 1860

Place

City

Montpelier

County

Washington County

State/Province

Vermont

Country

United States of America

Continent

North America

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Painting

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Dimension Description

Unframed

Height

35 in

Width

28-1/4 in

Dimension Description

Framed

Height

48 in

Width

39 in

Depth

5 in

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Dewey, Julius Yemans (1801-1877)

Interpretative Labels

Label

Susan Elizabeth Griggs Dewey Unknown Montpelier, VT Oil on canvas Gift of Emily Shipman Howland Gay, #A-577 Dr. Julius Dewey (1801-1877) practiced medicine in Montpelier, Vermont until the 1840s when he founded the National Life insurance company. What started out as a one-man operation soon turned into a major, national corporation still in operation today. His son, Admiral George Dewey, went on to fame in the Spanish American War. Susan Dewey was Dr. Dewey's third wife.