Artist/Maker Augustin Amant Constant Fidèle Edouart (French, 1789 – 1861)

George Griswold (1777–1859)

1843

Black prepared paper cut-out with graphite, laid on yellow paper with lithographed background and gray wash

Image: 10 1/2 x 6 3/4 in. ( 26.7 x 17.1 cm )
Framed: 11 5/8 in. × 8 in. × 3/4 in. (29.5 × 20.3 × 1.9 cm)

Purchase, James B. Wilbur Fund, 1953

Z.2342

Édouart cut this silhouette of George Griswold in the resort town of Saratoga Springs on July 8, 1843. A real estate speculator and investor, Griswold founded the N. L. & G. Griswold Company with his brother Nathaniel to import sugar and rum from the Caribbean, eventually expanding into the China Trade and capturing a large share of the nineteenth-century tea market. Édouart’s maritime lithographic background underscores his sitter’s occupation as an importer. The artist added his monogram AE onto one of the crates at the left.

DescriptionSilhouette: Full-length, left-facing male figure in black cut-out paper with fine linear detailing in graphite, mounted overall to cream paper with lithographed harbor view; gilded rectangular frame.

SignedSigned and dated lower right: "Aug'st Edouart, fecit / Saratoga Springs 8th July 1843"

InscribedVerso inscribed at center: "216 / 1/2 with gilt -- / Friday afternoon"

ClassificationsDRAWINGS