Biddle, Nicholas (1786-1844)
Legislator and financier Nicholas Biddle (1786-1844) was a member of the prominent Biddle family of Philadelphia, whose ancestors came to America with William Penn. A child prodigy, Biddle graduated from Princeton at the age of 15. He spent several years traveling throughout Europe, and served as secretary to James Monroe, then the US minister to Great Britain. Upon returning to the United States in 1807, Biddle practiced law, edited the literary magazine Port Folio, and helped edit the Lewis and Clark expedition journals for publication.
Biddle belonged to many Philadelphia civic organizations, among them: the Athenaeum of Philadelphia (which he helped found in 1814), the Pennsylvania Horticultural Society, and the Philadelphia Society for Promoting Agriculture. Additionally, Biddle served as President of the Girard College Board of Trustees and was instrumental in fulfilling Stephen Girard’s vision of building a school for poor orphaned boys.
As a member of the Pennsylvania General Assembly, Biddle advocated for the reestablishment of a national bank. In 1816, the second Bank of the United States was chartered, and in 1819, Monroe, now president of the United States, appointed Biddle to the board of directors of the Bank. In 1822 Biddle became president of the Bank, serving in that role until 1839, when it became increasingly clear that President Andrew Jackson’s refusal to renew the Bank’s charter all but guaranteed the Bank’s failure. The Bank ultimately closed in 1841.
Throughout his career, Biddle often took respite at his country residence known as Andalusia. In 1811 Biddle had married Jane Craig, and in 1814 obtained her parents’ large house located 14 miles north of Philadelphia overlooking the Delaware River. He commissioned architect Thomas Ustick Walter (who had designed Girard College) to transform the existing Craig house into a Greek Revival masterpiece. Biddle applied his lifelong interest in the arts, architecture, and experimental agriculture to develop the home and gardens into a stately and serene estate. Today, Andalusia is a National Historic Landmark open to visitors.
Nicholas Biddle died at Andalusia in 1844 at the age of 58.
Circle of Thomas Sully
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
2018.11.01
Walter, Mary Ann Elizabeth Hancocks (1806-1847)
Miniature portrait of Mrs. Ann Elizabeth Hancocks Walter, first wife of the great American architect Thomas Ustick Walter. In presentation frame: "Presented by Mrs. T.U. Walter to her husband, June 28th, 1838" inscribed in gold plaque, reverse.
Peale, Anna Claypoole
1838
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2004.M01.01
Study for The Apotheosis of Washington
With experience restoring Renaissance works at the Vatican in Rome, Brumidi came to the U. S. Capitol project in 1855 where he executed the very first frescoes in America for a House Committee meeting room. The Apotheosis of Washington was completed in January 1866.
Brumidi, Constantino
1863 (circa)
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1986.M04.01
Walter, Amanda Gardiner (1821-1892)
Amanda Gardiner Walter (1821-1892) was born in Delaware County, PA, the daughter of Richard and Hannah Gardiner. She married Thomas Ustick Walter in 1848, bore two children by him and raised six of his children by his first wife.
The German-born historical painter Emanuel Leutze (1816-1868) is best known for his “Washington Crossing the Delaware ” (1850). Walter records in his diary (preserved at the Athenæum) on April 1, 1852, “Worked at plans of Washington…Took Mrs. W & children to Capitol to see Leutze’s picture…Dined at the Presidents with Mrs. Walter."
Leutze, Emanuel
1852
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1983.07.03
Walter, Mary Ann Elizabeth (1806-1847)
Mary Ann Walter (1806-1847) was born in Philadelphia, the daughter of Robert and Marian Hancocks. She married Thomas Ustick Walter in 1824 and died following the birth of their eleventh child. According to her husband, “she was a lady of estimable qualities of mind, and of genial and engaging manners, fulfilling her duties to society with exactness, and propriety, and to her family with tenderness and love. She managed well the affairs of her household and, and trained her children with prudence and affection.”
Neagle, John
1835
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1983.07.02
Walter, Thomas Ustick (1803-1887)
Thomas Ustick Walter is widely recognized as the leading American architect of the mid-nineteenth century. Born in Philadelphia, Walter's many buildings here include Moyamensing Prison, Girard College, Andalusia and Portico Row. He is best remembered as the architect of the dome and wings of the United States Capitol-the most symbolically important and controversial building in the United States. Late in life he made major contributions to the design and decoration of the Philadelphia City Hall. This portrait of the architect shows him at the start of his prolific career. Behind him are visible a fluted column at Girard College and a distant view of the Philadelphia County Prison at Moyamensing. Both were under construction when the portrait was completed. A receipt in the amount of $180 for painting “Portraits of wife & self” survives in the Architect’s papers at the Athenæum.
Neagle, John
1835
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1983.07.01