David Rittenhouse

Object Details

Artist

Charles Willson Peale, 15 Apr 1741 - 22 Feb 1827

Sitter

David Rittenhouse, 8 Apr 1732 - 26 Jun 1796

Exhibition Label

Born near Germantown, Pennsylvania

A child prodigy who received no formal education, David Rittenhouse became one of the American colonies’ most respected scientists. He made his living as a clock and instrument-maker but became famous for the astronomical work he is shown pursuing in this portrait. The observations Rittenhouse made during the transit of Venus in 1769 enabled him to measure the distance from Earth to the sun and contributed to international recognition of American scientific achievement.

Rittenhouse turned his engineering expertise to military purposes during the American Revolution, which he strongly supported. As a member of Pennsylvania’s Committee of Safety, he surveyed the location of forts, developed experimental telescopic sights for rifles, and supervised the casting of cannon. After joining Rittenhouse to review defensive measures on the Delaware River, John Adams described him as “a tall, slender Man, plain, soft, modest, no remarkable Depth, or thoughtfullness in his Face—yet cool, attentive, and clear.”

Nacido cerca de Germantown, Pensilvania

David Rittenhouse fue un niño prodigio que, sin educación formal, llegó a ser uno de los científicos más respetados de las colonias americanas. Se ganaba la vida fabricando relojes e instrumentos, pero cobró fama por su trabajo de astronomía, como se ilustra en este retrato. Sus observaciones durante el tránsito de Venus en 1769 le permitieron medir la distancia desde la Tierra hasta el Sol y fomentaron el reconocimiento mundial de los logros científicos norteamericanos.

Rittenhouse aplicó sus conocimientos de ingeniería a fines militares durante la Guerra de Independencia, la cual apoyó con fervor. Como miembro del Comité de Seguridad de Pensilvania, estudió la ubicación de los fuertes, desarrolló mirillas telescópicas experimentales para los rifles y supervisó la fundición de los cañones. Luego de acompañar a Rittenhouse en una inspección de las defensas en el río Delaware, John Adams lo describió como “un Hombre alto, delgado, suave, modesto, sin Profundidad notable ni aire reflexivo en su Rostro, aunque sereno, atento y directo”.

Provenance

Purchased from artist by Edward Savage, 1796-1817; probably purchased with the contents of Savage's Museum by Ethan Allen Greenwood for his New England Museum, Boston, 1818; purchased by Moses Kimball for his Boston Museum, 1839. The Brook Club, New York City, by 1907; purchased by Thomas Sovreign Gates by 1945 for his wife, Emma Barton Waller Gates, a Rittenhouse descendant; her son, James Waller; his estate; (Robert Eldred Auction House, Hyannis, Mass.), March 29, 1986; purchased by (Schwarz Gallery, Philadelphia) for Stanley P. Sax; bequest to NPG 1998.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; bequest of Stanley P. Sax

1796

Object number

NPG.98.73

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Painting

Medium

Oil on canvas

Dimensions

Sight: 124.5 x 100.3 x 2.5cm (49 x 39 1/2 x 1")

Frame: 147.3 x 121.9 x 8.9cm (58 x 48 x 3 1/2")

Place

United States\Pennsylvania\Philadelphia\Philadelphia

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Exhibition

Out of Many: Portraits from 1600 to 1900

On View

NPG, East Gallery 142

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Interior

Printed Material\Book

Printed Material\Papers

Equipment\Optical Devices\Telescope

Costume\Robe\Banyan

David Rittenhouse: Male

David Rittenhouse: Education and Scholarship\Educator\Professor\University

David Rittenhouse: Education and Scholarship\Administrator\University administrator\University trustee

David Rittenhouse: Science and Technology\Scientist\Mathematician

David Rittenhouse: Science and Technology\Scientist\Astronomer

David Rittenhouse: Crafts and Trades\Mechanic

David Rittenhouse: Crafts and Trades\Clockmaker

Portrait

Record ID

npg_NPG.98.73

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm438a81dd0-bb7e-4d8a-b8bc-c7818132e7ca