Portrait of John Howland Ricketson
Portrait of John Howland Ricketson
Portrait of John Howland Ricketson

Portrait of John Howland Ricketson

Object number2018.101.1
Artist (1882 - 1909)
Manufacturer
Date1895-1900
OriginPittsburgh, PA
MediumOil paint; Canvas; Wood; Composition; Gilding; Brass; Metal; Paper; Ink; Adhesive
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. David M. Bowers
DescriptionFramed oil painting on canvas. Rectangular painting depicts a bust portrait of an older man with his body facing front and his head in three-quarter view facing and gazing slightly proper left. Man has brown eyes; short gray hair, muttonchops, and mustache; and black and gray eyebrows. Man wears dark gray suit, black vest, white shirt with stand-up collar, and black necktie. Black and brown background. Artist signature painted in red-brown in viewer's top right corner. Canvas is mounted on a four member stretcher with two keys in each corner. Painting is framed in a rectangular ornate gilt wooden frame with composition decorative details including acanthus leaves, scrolls, flowers, foliage, and crosshatching. Front of frame has brass plate at bottom center with black text. DimensionsHeight x Width x Depth (Framed): 42.375 x 37.5 x 5.375 in. (107.6 x 95.3 x 13.7 cm)
Height x Width (Sight size): 29.438 x 24.438 in. (74.8 x 62.1 cm)
SignedArtist signature painted in red-brown in viewer's top right corner "J M Isaacs".
InscriptionsFront of frame has brass plate at bottom center with black text "JOHN HOWLAND RICKETSON. / Harvard Class of 1859. / President University Club. / 1892 1895".

Reverse of frame has partial off-white paper sticker label in the viewer's top left corner with handwritten text in blue ink "PORTR... / U.GL... / 200 0..."

Reverse of frame has partial off-white paper sticker label in the viewer's bottom left corner with handwritten text in blue ink "14".
MarksReverse of canvas has painted text in black in the viewer's top left corner "Portrait of / John H Ricketson / Pittsburgh / Penn" and bottom left corner "Painted by / J. M. Isaacs / New York".

Reverse of frame has black framer's label at top center with brown text "J. J. GILLESPIE & CO. / PICTURES / MIRRORS / FINE ART / GALLERIES / 422 WOOD ST / PITTSBURGH, PA".
Historical NotesOil portrait of John H. Ricketson by Jessie Marian Isaacs purchased by donor David M. Bowers when the University Club closed. Ricketson was a former president of the University Club. A native of New Bedford, Ricketson was born there in 1837. He came to Pittsburgh after law studies at Harvard and opened a law office. He did not practice law for long after partnering with Abraham Garrison to start an iron mill, The A. Garrison Foundry Company. Ricketson was partners with Garrison and eventually his son-in-law. He was involved in many civic and business enterprises in the city including the Tenth Street Bridge Company, Harvard Club, Pittsburgh National Bank and Carnegie Hall and Library. He was instrumental in awarding the courthouse design to his former classmate Henry Hobson Richardson.
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