Washington Allston

Edward Augustus Brackett

1843–44; carved 1843–44 · Marble · The American Wing

Born in South Carolina, Washington Allston (1779–1843) spent his early career largely abroad and earned widespread admiration, in both America and Europe, for his ambitious history paintings and evocative landscapes. After settling in Boston in 1818, he mentored local artists, including Brackett, a self-taught portrait sculptor. When Allston died in July 1843, his family commissioned a likeness from Brackett. Although the sculptor took a death mask, he smoothed and softened the effects of age in the final portrait bust. Brackett went on to model portraits of such local luminaries as Henry Wadsworth Longfellow and Charles Sumner.

Artist

Edward Augustus Brackett

Date

1843–44; carved 1843–44

Medium

Marble

Culture

American

Department

The American Wing

Credit line

Gift in memory of Jonathan Sturges by his children, 1895