(A) Half length portrait of James Otis wearing a white waistcoat, blue coat, white lace collar and powdered wig; painted against a dark ground in a painted trompe l'oeil oval frame. Signed and dated by the artist on the lower left of the oval. (B) Original gilt frame for the portrait of James Otis.
paintings (visual works)
oil painting (technique)
canvas
Painting
Painting
James Otis, the uncle of Harrison Gray Otis, was a political firebrand. Indeed John Adams described him as "a flame of fire". He was a brilliant lawyer and passionate advocate for the patriots' cause until he was incapacitated by mental illness, perhaps schizophrenia. The phrase "Taxation without representation is tyranny" is attributed to him.
1869.1
1247
Blackburn, Joseph, ca. 1730-ca. 1778 (Painter)
36 1/2 x 3 (HxD) (inches)
Gift in memory of Gertrude and Carlos Hepp
2017.148.1AB
Title Portrait of Ruth Cunningham Otis (d. 1789) Accession Number 2017.148.2
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