Portrait of Eleanor Fortune Mulvany

Object number92.110.2 a,b

Datec. 1854

MediumOil on canvas; Wood

Credit LineGift of Patricia Ulam

DescriptionFramed oil painting. Portrait of an older woman, seated and facing proper right. She has gray/green eyes, and white hair that is partially covered by a white cap. She is dressed in dark clothing with a white collar and brooch visible at the neck. Ornate gold-colored frame with scallop & florals decoration.Dimensions33.4999 x 25.9999 in. (85.1 x 66 cm)
MarksLabel on backside, top center: Wonderly Brothers/ Galleries/ Pittsburgh Pa.
Label TextEleanor Fortune was the daughter of Walter Fortune, a Pittsburgh merchant. She married Patrick Mulvany, who was a prominent Pittsburgh businessman. Patick Mulvany came from Ireland around 1820. By 1826, he had a cabinet shop on Market between Second and Front Streets producing furniture such as the table displayed with the portraits. In 1832, he founded Birmingham Flint Glass Company with glass cutter William O'Leary. The firm manufactured plain, cut, and pressed flint glass. Since Mulvany was a cabinet maker, he likely was the financial investor in this early South Side glass manufacturing company. Mulvany aligned himself with other glass men and merchants through business and marriage (the company became Mulvany and Ledlie when Mulvany partnered with James E. Ledlie and his son-in-law Joseph J. Ulam. Mulvany served as a director of the Branch Bank of the United States.

Related person Eleanor Fortune Mulvany

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