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David Osgood and George Parker

David Osgood and George Parker
Artist
Auguste Edouart, 1788 - 1861
Sitter
David Osgood, 1793 - 1863
George Phillips Parker, 1793 - 1856
Date
1844
Type
Silhouette
Medium
Ink wash, chalk and cut paper on paper
Dimensions
Image/Sheet: 27.8 × 19.9 cm (10 15/16 × 7 13/16")
Frame: 47.9 × 37.8 × 3.2 cm (18 7/8 × 14 7/8 × 1 1/4")
Topic
Interior
Silhouette\Cut-out
Printed Material\Document
David Osgood: Male
David Osgood: Medicine and Health\Physician
George Phillips Parker: Male
George Phillips Parker: Society and Social Change\Reformer\Activist
Portrait
Place
United States\New York\Saratoga\Saratoga
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Robert L. McNeil, Jr.
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
S/NPG.91.126.129.B
Exhibition Label
This double portrait references the temperance movement and homeopathy. George Phillips Parker, on the right, points to the United Brothers of Temperance pledge he holds in his hand, as if asking David Osgood to sign it. Members of temperance movements viewed alcohol as a root evil, impairing one’s ability to live a happy and prosperous life. A year after this portrait was made, Parker was expelled for divulging the “private business of the order” in a temperance newspaper, but he nonetheless continued as a temperance advocate. Osgood, who graduated from Harvard (a year after Parker), became a well-regarded doctor who showed charity and kindness to his poor patients. In 1839, Osgood visited with the German physician Samuel Hahnemann in Paris, who advocated homeopathy, at the time a novel form of alternative medi- cine. Later, Osgood embraced homeopathy in his practice and participated in the active community of homeopathic physicians in Massachusetts.
Este doble retrato hace alusión al movimiento por la templanza y a la homeopatía. George Phillips Parker, a la derecha, apunta al juramento de la hermandad United Brothers of Temperance que sostiene en su mano, como si pidiera a David Osgood que lo firmara. Los adeptos de los movimientos por la templanza creían que el alcohol era la raíz de muchos males y que impedía llevar una vida feliz y próspera. Un año después de realizado este retrato, Parker fue expul- sado por divulgar los “asuntos privados de la orden” en un periódico del movimiento, aunque continuó abogando por la templanza. Osgood se graduó de la Universidad de Harvard un año después que Parker y llegó a ser un respetado doctor, benévolo y caritativo con sus pacientes pobres. En 1839 visitó en París al médico alemán Samuel Hahnemann, promotor de la homeopatía, entonces una novedad como medicina alternativa. Osgood adoptó la homeopatía en su práctica y formó parte de la activa comunidad de médicos homeopáticos de Massachusetts.
Data Source
National Portrait Gallery
Location
Currently not on view