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 or Organization
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.
