Portrait of the Downer Children

Peter Frederick Rothermel, Portrait of the Downer Children, 1850, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Josephine Regar Schlagel, 2000.8
Peter Frederick Rothermel, Portrait of the Downer Children, 1850, oil on canvas, 38 1⁄8 x 48 1⁄8 in. (96.9 x 122.2 cm), Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Josephine Regar Schlagel, 2000.8
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Artwork Details

Title
Portrait of the Downer Children
Artist
Date
1850
Location
Not on view
Dimensions
38 1⁄8 x 48 1⁄8 in. (96.9 x 122.2 cm)
Credit Line
Gift of Josephine Regar Schlagel
Mediums
Mediums Description
oil on canvas
Classifications
Subjects
  • Portrait group — family — siblings
  • Animal — rabbit
Object Number
2000.8
Linked Open Data
https://edan.si.edu/saam/id/object/2000.8

Artwork Description

Peter Frederick Rothermel created an imaginary landscape of lush vegetation and clouds behind the Downer children, who pose as stiffly as statues. A medieval castle looms in the distance behind Dora, while Amy leans against a stone pedestal, holding her baby brother, Adolph. The white rabbit, a gentle creature of nature, symbolizes the children’s own natural innocence. Captain George Downer and his wife commissioned Rothermel to paint this portrait when he was the director of the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts, in Philadelphia.

Works by this artist (3 items)

Alexander Hay Ritchie, Peter Frederick Rothermel, George Washington, 1852, engraving, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Jane Fowler Bassett, 1971.292.22
George Washington
Artist
Date1852
engraving
Not on view
Peter Frederick Rothermel, Columbus before the Queen, 1841, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Museum purchase, 1976.119
Columbus before the Queen
Artist
Date1841
oil on canvas
Not on view
Peter Frederick Rothermel, Portrait of the Downer Children, 1850, oil on canvas, Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Josephine Regar Schlagel, 2000.8
Portrait of the Downer Children
Artist
Date1850
oil on canvas
Not on view

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