John Watts

Copied George Edwin Bissell, John Watts, cast 1890, bronze, 18 in. (45.7 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of John Watts De Peyster, XX80
Free to use

Artwork Details

Title
John Watts
Artist
Date
cast 1890
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
18 in. (45.7 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of John Watts De Peyster
Mediums
Mediums Description
bronze
Classifications
Subjects
  • Occupation — political — statesman
  • Occupation — other — philanthropist
  • Portrait male — Watts, John — full length
  • Object — written matter — scroll
Object Number
XX80
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/XX80

Artwork Description

Born in 1749, John Watts was a merchant, politician, and philanthropist from New York, where he was elected Speaker of the Assembly and represented his state in the Third Congress of the United States. In this portrait, George Edwin Bissell emphasized Watts's political legacy by modeling the figure with his right arm outstretched, as if he were speaking. His left hand holds a scroll, representing Watts’s status as a senior statesman.