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Artist
Angelica Kauffmann, 30 Oct 1741 - 5 Nov 1807
Sitter
John Morgan, 10 Jun 1735 - 15 Oct 1789
Date
1764
Type
Painting
Medium
Oil on canvas
Dimensions
Frame: 144.1 x 108.3 x 5.7cm (56 3/4 x 42 5/8 x 2 1/4")
Topic
Printed Material\Book
Costume\Jewelry\Ring
Interior\Interior with Exterior View
Printed Material\Newspaper
Home Furnishings\Furniture\Table
Costume\Robe\Banyan
John Morgan: Male
John Morgan: Medicine and Health\Physician
John Morgan: Literature\Writer\Medical writer
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; this acquisition was made possible by a generous contribution from the James Smithson Society
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.78.221
Exhibition Label
Born Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
In 1765, John Morgan cofounded a medical school in Philadelphia, the first in the American colonies. That same year, he published a plan for establishing other institutions for training physicians and professionalizing medicine. Morgan had first worked as a military surgeon on the western frontier during the French and Indian War (1754–63). He later pursued an advanced medical degree at Edinburgh University in Scotland.
During the Revolutionary War (1775–83), Morgan served two years as the director general of the Hospital of the Army. In this position, he confronted daunting challenges, including an outbreak of smallpox and infighting among army officials who were unaccustomed to a centralized medical service.
This portrait was made by noted Swiss-born artist Angelica Kauffmann in Rome during Morgan’s visit there in 1764.
Nacido en Filadelfia, Pensilvania
En 1765, John Morgan cofundó una escuela de medicina en Filadelfia, la primera de las colonias americanas. Ese mismo año publicó un plan para establecer otras instituciones a fin de entrenar médicos y profesionalizar dicha práctica. Morgan había sido cirujano militar en la frontera occidental durante la Guerra Franco-Indígena (1754–63). Luego obtuvo un título médico avanzado en la Universidad de Edimburgo, Escocia.
Durante la Guerra de Independencia (1775–83), Morgan fue director general del Hospital del Ejército por dos años. En este puesto confrontó enormes retos, incluido un brote de viruela y peleas entre los oficiales que no estaban acostumbrados a un servicio médico centralizado.
Angelica Kauffmann, notable artista nacida en Suiza, hizo este retrato en Roma durante una visita de Morgan en 1764.
Provenance
Washington County Historical Society, Washington, Pa.; (Kennedy Galleries, New York); purchased 1978 NPG
Compiled by the Frick Art Reference Library: Descended in family to David T. Morgan; his sister, Loretta T. Morgan [Mrs. Watson]; her son, David T. Watson; his sister, Mrs. Andrew G. Happer; to Washington County Historical Society
