Burt, Mary (d.1908)

Burt, Mary (d.1908)

Uhle, Bernard

1891

Mary Burt (d. 1908) was the niece of William Lehman whose legacy of $10,000 in 1829 provided the funds to construct this building. This three-quarter length portrait was painted by Bernard Uhle (1847-1929) in 1891.

Born in Chemitz, Saxony, Uhle emigrated with his family to Philadelphia in 1851 and at the age of fifteen became a student at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He opened a portrait studio in Philadelphia in 1877 and later became an instructor at the Academy (1886-1890). It was soon after this time that Uhle became a recluse. He lived alone (with seven cats) for nearly a quarter century. Uhle was presumed dead until 1915, when he suddenly reappeared to present a painting ordered twenty-three years before.

38" x 54"

Oil on canvas

Gift of Mary Burt-Jume; Exhibited at 65th Annual Exhibition of PAFA, Dec. 23rd 1895-Feb 22nd 1896.

General Collection, Museum Collection, The Athenaeum of Philadelphia

1970.01.01

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