Lawrence Park Research Files on Gilbert Stuart
Scope and Content Note
These records consist primarily of correspondence concerning the history and authentication of paintings by Gilbert Stuart. Begun as an independent project by Lawrence Park, the project was completed by William Sawitzky under the auspices of Helen Clay Frick and the Frick Art Reference Library after the death of Mr. Park in September 1924, resulting in the publication Gilbert Stuart: an Illustrated Descriptive List of his Works.
The first series contains correspondence between Mr. Park and owners of paintings, scholars and descendants of portrait subjects. The letters are arranged alphabetically by correspondent or institution, and sometimes painting subject. The second series contains correspondence related to Mr. Sawitzky's research. The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by painting subject and occasionally by correspondent. There is some correspondence with Mr. Park in this later material.
The final series mainly consists of note cards arranged by portrait subject detailing information about the paintings gathered during Park and Sawitzky's research. Items such as notes, correspondence, drawings, and family trees were attached to many of the note cards.
Dates
- Majority of material found within Bulk, 1920-1925
- 1904-1925
Creator
- Park, Lawrence, 1873-1924 (Person)
Access Restrictions
These records are open for research under the conditions of The Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives access policy. Contact the Archives Department for further information at archives@frick.org.
Biographical Note
Lawrence Park was born in Worcester, Mass. in 1873 to John Gray Park and Elizabeth Bigelow Lawrence. He attended Harvard and the School of Drawing and Painting in the Museum of Fine Arts at Boston. After graduation, he worked as an architect in Boston, commuting from Groton. He married Maria Davis Motley in 1905 and they had two children.
Park became interested in family portraits in 1914 while writing a genealogy. In addition to his work on Gilbert Stuart, he also wrote publications regarding portraitists Joseph Badger and Joseph Blackburn. He became an authority on early American painting and was made curator of Colonial Art in the Cleveland Museum in 1919.
Gilbert Charles Stuart (1755-1828) was an American painter from Rhode Island. Considered to be one of the foremost American portraitists, the image from his best known painting of George Washington has appeared on the United States one-dollar bill for over one century. Gilbert Stuart produced portraits of over 1,000 people, including the first six presidents of the United States.
Extent
4.0 Linear feet (8 boxes, 2 notecard boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
These records consist of correspondence and notes concerning the history and authentication of paintings by Gilbert Stuart, a prominent early American portraitist. Begun as an independent project by Lawrence Park, the project was completed by William Sawitzky under the auspices of Helen Clay Frick and the Frick Art Reference Library after the death of Mr. Park in September 1924, resulting in the publication Gilbert Stuart: an Illustrated Descriptive List of his Works.
Arrangement
Organized into three series:
Series I: Correspondence - Lawrence Park
Series II: Correspondence - William Sawitzky
Series III: Note cards
Processing Information
Arranged and described by Sally Brazil, 1998; Shannon Yule, 2009.
- Title
- Finding Aid for the Lawrence Park Research Files on Gilbert Stuart, 1904-1925 MS.007
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by Finding aid prepared by Shannon Yule
- Date
- © 2010 The Frick Collection. All rights reserved.
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
Repository Details
Part of the Frick Collection/Frick Art Reference Library Archives Repository
