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Washington Allston

1843–44; carved 1843–44
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 774
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.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: Washington Allston
  • Artist: Edward Augustus Brackett (American, Vassalboro, Maine 1818–1908 Winchester, Massachusetts)
  • Date: 1843–44; carved 1843–44
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Marble
  • Dimensions: 26 3/4 x 14 1/4 x 9 in. (67.9 x 36.2 x 22.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Gift in memory of Jonathan Sturges by his children, 1895
  • Object Number: 95.8.2
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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