Portrait of Mary Junkin Cowley
Object number2022.93.1
Artist
Ellis Meyer Silverberg
(1876 - 1940)
Date1916
MediumOil paint; Canvas; Wood; Metal; Varnish
Credit LineGift of George T. Palafoutas
DescriptionFramed rectangular oil painting on canvas depicting bust portrait of older female in three-quarter view facing slightly proper left. Subject's dark gray hair is styled in an up-do, her gaze is at the viewer, and she has brown eyes and a slight smile. Subject wears a red blouse with a white diaphanous scarf wrapped around her shoulders which is fastened at front center with a brooch; brooch has red oval stone with ornate gold mount. Background is browns and greens. Artist signature painted in bottom proper right corner. Canvas is stretched on a four member strainer with nails around the perimeter. Reverse of frame members have remnants of brown backing paper. Carved gold wooden frame features bronze-colored panel between two carved bands. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (Framed): 35.125 x 30.125 x 2.125 in. (89.2 x 76.5 x 5.4 cm)Height x Width x Depth (Painting only): 30.375 x 25.125 x 1 in. (77.2 x 63.8 x 2.5 cm)
SignedArtist signature painted in bottom proper right corner "EM Silverberg / 1916".
Historical NotesPortrait of Mary Junkin Cowley by E. M. Silverberg, 1916. Cowley, the namesake of Cowley Elementary School, served as President of the Playground and Vacation School Association of Allegheny County for 34 years and as a founding member of the first Board of Public Education in 1911. Cowley school was built in 1895 as the Second Ward School of Allegheny City before being renamed in 1926. The donor’s brother, a social worker at the school for many years, took the portrait after the school closed in 1973.
Related person
Mary Junkin Cowley
Related institution
Cowley Elementary School
Related institution
Board of Education
On View
Not on view
Edwin Garnet Riley
Edwin Garnet Riley
Edwin Garnet Riley
Edwin Garnet Riley
Edwin Garnet Riley
Edwin Garnet Riley