Painting

Title:

Portrait of Nathaniel Gilman

Object Name:

Painting

Creator:

Charles Octavius Cole (1814-1858)

Date:

circa1848

Material:

Oil paint, canvas, wood frame

Dimensions:

H-4.75 L-21 Dia-7 inches

Description:

Oil portrait on canvas, lined, original stretcher, probably original frame. Waist length portrait of an elderly man with wispy, thinning gray hair, small black ribbon that tied his hair back is visible beneath his left ear, blue eyes, flushed complexion. He faces left and is seated in a chair, wearing a white shirt and cravat, black waistcoat and jacket. Deep brown background.

Provenance:

Nathaniel was Nicholas Gilman Sr.'s third surviving son, and assisted in the state finances during the American Revolution. When Nicholas died, the Odlin house on Front Street became the property of Nathaniel, and he lived there with his big family, and his brother Nicholas stayed there when in town. He had a large farm and served as the State Treasurer and financial agent of the federal government, and later as a member of the House of Representatives and as a senator. In Nancy Merrill's article in the Bicentennial issue of Profiles, she states, "He was elected to important town offices and was a leader in various town enterprises." He died at age 88, and if the date on the painting is correct, it was painted posthumously.

Charles Octavius Cole was born in Newburyport, Massachusetts on July 1, 1814. Painted scenes of Portland, Maine (where he moved to in 1833) and of children and important patrons.

Subjects:

Painting, Paintings, Portrait paintings, Portraits, Oil paintings

People:

Gilman, Nathaniel, Cole, Charles Octavius

Place of Origin:

United States

Collection Name:

American Independence Museum

Item Number:

1992.009

Accession Number:

1992.009

Type of Material:

Objects

Copyright Statement:

For information regarding copyright, permissions, and reproductions contact the American Independence Museum

Credit Line:

Gift of John Taylor Gilman Nichols, 1992

Participating Organization:

American Independence Museum