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The Contest for the Bouquet: The Family of Robert Gordon in Their New York Dining-Room

Seymour Joseph Guy American, born England
1866
On view at The Met Fifth Avenue in Gallery 736
English-born artist Guy settled in New York City in 1854. In this lively domestic scene, commissioned by the financier Robert Gordon, three children vie for a small corsage while a fourth seeks comfort in her mother’s lap. A founding trustee of The Met, Gordon collected American paintings, including contemporary landscapes, which he displayed in the dining room of his home at 7 West 33rd Street, depicted here. The furnishings conform to the fashionable Renaissance Revival style. The elaborately carved sideboard resembles an example by Alexander Roux on display in this gallery.

Artwork Details

Object Information
  • Title: The Contest for the Bouquet: The Family of Robert Gordon in Their New York Dining-Room
  • Artist: Seymour Joseph Guy (American (born England), London 1824–1910 New York)
  • Date: 1866
  • Culture: American
  • Medium: Oil on canvas
  • Dimensions: 24 5/8 x 29 1/2 in. (62.5 x 74.9 cm)
  • Credit Line: Purchase, Gift of William E. Dodge, by exchange, and Lila Acheson Wallace Gift, 1992
  • Object Number: 1992.128
  • Curatorial Department: The American Wing

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The Crossing Sweeper, Seymour Joseph Guy American, born England, Oil on canvas, American
The Crossing Sweeper
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Charles Loring Elliott, Seymour Joseph Guy American, born England, Oil on canvas, American
Charles Loring Elliott
Seymour Joseph Guy
1868
Story of Golden Locks, Seymour Joseph Guy American, born England, Oil on canvas, American
Story of Golden Locks
Seymour Joseph Guy
ca. 1870
Ernesta (Child with Nurse), Cecilia Beaux American, Oil on canvas, American
Ernesta (Child with Nurse)
Cecilia Beaux
1894
The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak, Albert Bierstadt American, Oil on canvas, American
The Rocky Mountains, Lander's Peak
Albert Bierstadt
1863

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