1880 Cyrus W Fields Letter (ALS) To Oliver Lay (Field Portrait Artist) JSA

An historically significant handwritten signed letter (ALS) from business titan and entrepreneur Cyrus West Field (1819-1892) to American portrait painter Oliver Ingraham Lay. In his letter dated May 27, 1880, Field writes “Will you call at my house to see me, some morning about ½ past 8, as I wish to talk with you about some further commission I am thinking of giving you.” Lay completed a portrait of Field in 1880 which is reported to be in a private collection currently. An earlier painting of Field by Lay completed in 1872 resides in the National Portrait Gallery. Among the most famous paintings by Lay is the portrait of actor Edwin Booth as Shakespeare’s Hamlet (brother of President Abraham Lincoln assassin John Wilkes Booth) which also resides in the National Portrait Gallery.Cyrus W. Field had his business roots in the paper business. Apparently having an interest in art as well, in 1853, Field financed an expedition to South America with his artist friend Frederic Edwin Church, inspiring some of Church’s most famous paintings.Working with other entrepreneurs, Field is credited with the creation of the Atlantic Telegraph Company and laying the first telegraph cable across the Atlantic Ocean in 1858.5 X 8. Very good condition. Accompanied by a full JSA (James Spence) Letter of Authenticity. Comes with a Gotta Have It! Certificate of Authenticity.

Price: $1,000.00 Or

Qty

Click on a thumbnail above to display a larger image below
Hold down the mouse button and slide side to side to see more thumbnails(if available).

Click above for larger image.