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
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
1983.07.01
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
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
1983.07.02
McIllhenney, William, Jr. (c.1779-1853),
William McIlhenney, Jr., (c.1779-1854), scholar and attorney at law educated at the University of Pennsylvania, became the Athenaeum's third librarian in 1820. He served the Athenaeum well and was its popular librarian for thirty-four years. During his tenure the collections were greatly expanded and the present building was erected. On the back of the canvas: "Post mortem portrait of the late Wm. McIlhenney for thirty-four years the librarian of the Philadelphia Athenaeum. Painted for the Athenaeum by John Neagle. Phila. June 30, 1855."
Neagle, John
1855
http://www.philaathenaeum.org/rights.html
AP36.01