Andrew Oliver

Object Details

Artist

John Singleton Copley, 3 Jul 1738 - 9 Sep 1815

Sitter

Andrew Oliver, 28 Mar 1706 - 3 Mar 1774

Exhibition Label

Although Andrew Oliver, a Massachusetts colonial officeholder of nearly thirty years' standing, regarded the Stamp Act as a "public Misfortune," he agreed to accept the office of collector of stamps. After a mob swarmed over his garden, violated his house, and threatened his life, Oliver gave the impression that he would resign his post. When he did not, his effigy was hung from the Liberty Tree, the site of patriotic protest. While standing under the tree in the rain, Oliver was forced to swear that he would take no measures for enforcing an act "which is so grievous to the People."

Provenance

(Hirschl & Adler Galleries, Inc., New York); purchased 1978 NPG

Provenance compiled by Hirschl & Adler: Andrew Oliver, the sitter; his son Andrew Oliver, Jr.; his son B. Lynde Oliver, Salem; his nephew B. Lynde Oliver; purchased 1844 by a nephew Fitz-Edward Oliver;his sister Sarah Pynchon Oliver; purchased by her nephew Andrew Oliver; William H.P. Oliver, Morristown, N.J.; his three sons Peter, Seabury and Andrew Oliver; Seabury Oliver, great-great-great grandson of sitter.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee; frame conserved with funds from the Smithsonian Women's Committee

c. 1758

Object number

NPG.78.218

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on copper

Dimensions

Frame: 21 x 18.4 x 1.9cm (8 1/4 x 7 1/4 x 3/4")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Miniature

Andrew Oliver: Male

Andrew Oliver: Politics and Government\Statesman\Colonial Statesman

Andrew Oliver: Politics and Government\Lieutenant Governor\Massachusetts

Andrew Oliver: Politics and Government\Loyalist

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.78.218

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm44b3c6980-bcb4-4570-b3e4-dfac29453c82