Portrait of Captain Robert Harper Griswold, 1840
1840
19th Century
18 1/2 in. x 15 1/2 in.
Thomas Coke Ruckle,
(1811–1891)
Object Type:
Painting
Medium and Support:
watercolor on paper
Credit Line:
Florence Griswold Museum; Gift of Dr. Matthew Griswold
Accession Number:
1973.4.2
This portrait of Captain Robert (1806-1882) was executed the year before his marriage to Helen Powers of Guilford. In 1841 he purchased the house in which you now stand. The house remained in the family until shortly before the death of his youngest daughter Florence in 1937. He began his career at sea as second mate to his brother Captain Augutus, and later became one of the best-known commanders of the Black X packet boat line between New York and London. Captain Griswold retired from the sea in 1855.
The artists, Thomas Coke Ruckle, was in London between 1839 and 1841 receiving professional training at the Royal Academy.