Description: Augustus Jay (1850-1919) handwritten signed letter dated June 5, 1889. Diplomat and grandson of Founding Father Peter Augustus Jay, his letter is written as Secretary of the American Legation in Paris (the oldest diplomatic mission of the United States) on their stationery. This letter originates from a collection of letters written to renowned American portrait artist Oliver Ingraham Lay. In his letter to Oliver Lay addressed “Dear Sir”, Jay mentions Rutherford Stuyvesant (socialite, New York land developer, and art collector) with whom he has communicated about the display of Jay’s own portrait at a museum (presumably the Metropolitan Museum of Art) and whether there would be a need to rotate the display of his portrait. Jay relays “…that General di Cesnola told him the other day that it had been his intention to hang my portrait for the coming season.” General di Cesnola was the first Director of the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1879-1904). Among the most famous paintings by Oliver Lay is the portrait of actor Edwin Booth as Shakespeare’s Hamlet (brother of President Abraham Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth) which resides in the National Portrait Gallery. A great letter from this historical political figure. 9.875 X 8.875 when open. Very good condition. Accompanied by a JSA (James Spence Authentication) Letter of Authenticity.
Price: 200 USD
Location: Clifton, New Jersey
End Time: 2024-12-13T01:43:34.000Z
Shipping Cost: 6 USD
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Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Industry: Historical
Signed by: Augustus Jay
Signed: Yes
Original/Reproduction: Original
