silhouette

Name/Title

Ethan Allen

Entry/Object ID

1954.36.28

Description

Silhouette of a man, bust size. Distinguishing features are: pointed nose, long sloping forehead and pronounced cravat. Written o back inold script is "Ethan Allen." At lower edge of silhouette stamped into paper is a spread eagle with "Peale's Museum." See A-306. Silhouette is mounted in a period grain painted frame. Small cut paper silhouette of a man in a wooden frame. The man has a high hairline, a long nose, and is wearing a cravat or bow tie. The words, "Ethan Allen" are written on the back of the silhouette, and there is a stamped mark of an eagle that reads, "Peale's Museum."

Artwork Details

Medium

Paper

Subject Person

Allen, Ethan (1738-1789)

Context

Said to be a silhouette of Ethan Allen previously held by Peale's Museum in New York. The museum closed in 1837, and the stamped mark was used on counterfeit silhouettes afterward, which is likely the case for this piece.

Acquisition

Accession

1954.36

Source or Donor

Rugg, Harold Goddard (1883-1957)

Acquisition Method

Gift

Lexicon

Nomenclature 4.0

Nomenclature Primary Object Term

Silhouette

Nomenclature Class

Art

Nomenclature Category

Category 08: Communication Objects

Dimensions

Height

6 in

Width

4-7/8 in

Relationships

Related Person or Organization

Person or Organization

Allen, Ethan (1738-1789)