Image Not Available for Portrait of Sarah Phillips
Portrait of Sarah Phillips
Image Not Available for Portrait of Sarah Phillips

Portrait of Sarah Phillips

Object number86.1.181
Date1830
MediumOil paint on wood; Paper; Ink; Adhesive; Graphite; Brass; Metal
Credit LineGift of the Mary Burgwin Estate
DescriptionFramed oval oil painting on wood panel. Portrait of woman with dark hair that is styled in an ornamental updo. She is wearing a black dress with a wide neckline, puffed sleeves, and a shawl over her left shoulder. Background is green-brown. Gold frame with ornate decoration at top, right, bottom, and left. Brass plate mounted at bottom center of frame.DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (Framed): 37.125 × 30.5 × 2.5 in. (94.3 × 77.5 × 6.4 cm)
InscriptionsBrass plate mounted at bottom center of frame has text "SARAH ORMSBY PHILLIPS / 1803-1885 / GIFT OF THE BURGWIN ESTATE".

Reverse has partial paper label at top center of frame with text "WB / Miss Mary Burgwin".

Reverse has paper note mounted at back center of panel with typewritten black text "SARAH ORMSBY / Her husband's portrait is to come to the / Historical Society on the death of Miss Margaret / Phillips / Sarah Ormsby's portrait brought here by Fidelity / Trust Co. from the Mary Burgwin Estate / May 13,1957".

Reverse has paper label adhered to bottom center of frame with handwritten text in ink "Sarah. M. Phillips / 1803-1885".

Reverse has handwritten text in pencil across back of panel through center, it is difficult to decipher, but includes "M ...Phillips / ..."
Historical NotesSarah Mahon Ormsby Phillips was the daughter of Oliver Ormsby and Sarah Mahon Ormsby. In 1827, she married Major Asher Phillips and they had four children, Mary, Joseph, Ormsby, and Sarah. Their son Ormsby was elected Mayor of Allegheny City in 1874, and their daughter Mary married Nathaniel Hill Burgwin. Sarah Street in the South Side of Pittsburgh is named after her. This painting was donated to the Historical Society of Western Pennsylvania by the estate of Mary Burgwin in 1957. She was the granddaughter of Sarah Mahon Ormsby Phillips. Her parents were Mary Phillips Burgwin and Nathaniel Hill Burgwin.
Related person (1803 - 1885)
Previous owner (1862 - 1957)
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