George A. Plimpton collection of portraits, 1550-1920

Summary Information

Description

Summary

Primarily oil portraits of 18th century literary figures. There are also engravings, and pen and ink and pencil sketches. Among the literary figures are portraits of Samuel Butler, Lord Byron, Thomas Carlyle; Colley Cibber; Charles Dickens; John Evelyn; John Foxe; David Garrick; Thomas Gray; Charles Lamb; Sir Thomas More; Sir Walter Raleigh; Samuel Richardson; Richard B. Sheridan; Alfred, Lord Tennyson; William M. Thackeray; and others. There is also a portrait by Blanche Ames of George A. Plimpton. Among the artists represented in the collection are James Maubert, Frederick Sandys, and William Hogarth (attrib.)

Using the Collection

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

Ownership and Custodial History

Bequest of Mrs. George A. Plimpton, 1950. Gift of Mrs. Francis T. P. Plimpton, 1987.

The entire collection was transferred to Columbia University Art Properties Department as of January 2023. Please contact Art Properties for access.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Portraits: Source of acquisition--Plimpton, Mrs George A and Mrs. Francis. Method of acquisition--Bequest and Gift.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Biographical / Historical

Collector, publisher, trustee, and philanthropist. Plimpton collected manuscripts and early books of an educational nature, Italian literature, and Americana.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

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Genre/Form
Drawings (visual works)	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Engravings (prints)	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Oil paintings (visual works)	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Sketches	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Name
Ames, Blanche	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Butler, Samuel, 1612-1680	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Byron, George Gordon Byron, Baron, 1788-1824	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Carlyle, Thomas, 1795-1881	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Cibber, Colley, 1671-1757	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Dickens, Charles, 1812-1870	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Evelyn, John, 1620-1706	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Foxe, John, 1516-1587	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Garrick, David, 1717-1779	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Gray, Thomas, 1716-1771	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Hogarth, William, 1697-1764	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Lamb, Charles, 1775-1834	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
More, Thomas, 1565-1625	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Raleigh, Walter, Sir, 1552?-1618	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Richardson, Samuel, 1689-1761	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Sandys, Frederick, 1829-1904	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Sheridan, Richard Brinsley, 1751-1816	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Tennyson, Alfred Tennyson, Baron, 1809-1892	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Thackeray, William Makepeace, 1811-1863	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Subject
Artists	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Authors, English	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Painters	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Philanthropists	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Portraits	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID
Publishers and publishing	CLIO Catalog	ArchiveGRID