Subject:

Stuart, Gilbert 1755-1828  Search this

Washington, George 1732-1799  Search this

Boston Athenaeum  Search this

Boston Globe  Search this

Museum of Fine Arts, Boston  Search this

National Portrait Gallery (U.S.)  Search this

Date:

April 5, 1979

Category:

Chronology of Smithsonian History

Notes:

Torch, 5/1979, p. 1.

Summary:

The Boston Globe breaks the story that the Smithsonian is negotiating with the Boston Athenaeum for the purchase of the Gilbert Stuart portraits of George and Martha Washington. The portraits are on display at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston where they had been on loan since 1876. With this news story, a country-wide campaign to keep the paintings in Boston ensued and propelled the SI and the Athenaeum to suspend negotiations until the end of the year.

Contact information:

Institutional History Division, Smithsonian Institution Archives, 600 Maryland Avenue, S.W., Washington, D.C. 20024-2520, SIHistory@si.edu

Topic:

Art, American  Search this

Art--History  Search this

Art objects  Search this

Controversies  Search this

Portraits  Search this

Data Source:

Smithsonian Archives - History Div

EDAN-URL:

edanmdm:siris_sic_1787