Ellen Peabody (1833-1927) was the granddaughter of a shipping tycoon, Joseph Peabody, who became wealthy during the war of 1812 and thereafter -- soon to be the wealthiest in Salem. She married William Crowninshield Endicott, Sr., who was an attorney with strong political aspirations and was on the verge of serving as Secretary of War under U.S. President Grover Cleveland's administration (1893-1897).
By the time Ellen became the matron of the family, she had had managed to solidify herself and her family at the top of the blue bloods of Massachusetts. The status of their family in stately portraits by the best would help put the perfect button to her ambitious husband's political aspirations.
She and her family split time between the family estate at Glen Magna Farms in Danvers, Massachusetts and there home at 163 Marlborough Street in Boston. This painting, along with a painting of her daughter, her son (not shown) and one of her daughter-in-law (which John would do in subsequent years) were hung together in her Marlborough Street home by 1907.
Glen Magna Farms was embellished by Ellen during the gilded age and it is now open for viewing.
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Mrs. William Crowninshield Endicott (mug) 1903 |
See the painting as it hangs National Gallery, Washington, D.C. 2003 |
Sargent also painted her husband
William Crowninshield Endicott, Jr.,
1907
Massachusetts Historical Society, Boston,
Oil on canvas
56 x 34 in. (142.3 x 86.3 cm)
Inscription: (Upper left:) John S. Sargent (Upper right:) 1907 signed
Three-quarter-length standing portrait of William Crowninshield Endicott, Jr. (1860-1936) leaning his right arm on a mantelpiece. He wears a black frock coat and blue cravat.
SIRIS # IAP 81690160
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 3, The later portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2003, no. 400.
Torchia, Robert Wilson, "American paintings of the nineteenth century; part 2," Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1998.
National Gallery of Art, 1988, 1990.
"American paintings and sculpture: an illustrated catalogue," Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 1970.
Torchia, Robert Wilson, "American paintings of the nineteenth century; part 2," Washington, DC: National Gallery of Art, 1998, pg. 114.
Ormond, Richard and Elaine Kilmurray, "John Singer Sargent: complete paintings; volume 3, The later portraits," New Haven, CT: Yale University Press, 2003, pg. 57.
"American paintings and sculpture: an illustrated catalogue," Washington, D.C.: National Gallery of Art, 1970, pg. 97.