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Anson Dickinson - miniature portrait Research requests may be sent to history@stamfordhistory.org
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RG-02

ANSON DICKINSON (1779-1852)

Registration Sheet September 1985

Introduction

Anson Dickinson, a painter of miniature portraits, was born in Milton, Connecticut, in 1779. He was the eldest of ten children born to Oliver Dickinson Junior (1757-1847) and Anna Landon Dickinson (1760-1849). As a boy, Anson Dickinson was apprenticed to Litchfield silversmith Isaac Thompson. Little else is known about his early art training. He first advertised his services as a miniature painter in a New Haven newspaper of May 27, 1802. His earliest known painting is signed and dated 1803.

During his nearly 50 year career as a miniaturist, Dickinson kept a work book which has enabled art historians to trace the development of his career. Included are the names of 1500 subjects he painted, as well as dates, places, and in some cases, prices charged. Because of the relatively high cost of his miniatures, he had to travel widely throughout the eastern states and into Canada to find clients.

In 1804, Dickinson had his own miniature portrait painted by Edward Greene Malbone, the most eminent miniaturist in America. Subsequently, Dickinson's style changed, and he opened the first of several New York City studios. Throughout his career, he returned to Milton at fairly regular intervals to visit his family and paint Litchfield residents and students at the Tapping Reeve Law School and Miss Sarah Pierce's Female Academy. He also traveled to Charleston, South Carolina, and in later years, to Washington D.C. where he painted miniature portraits of members of Congress and their families.

In 1812, Dickinson married Sarah Brown, a French Canadian. In 1824 or thereafter, they adopted the two motherless Walker children, Mary Ann and William Edmund. The family resided with the artist when he was settled or with his family in Milton when he was traveling. He and his wife both died there in 1852 and are buried in Milton's Blue Swamp Cemetery.

Dickinson painted great and famous as well as ordinary men and women, including many members of his own family. He was renowned in his own time, but is nearly forgotten in ours. The Litchfield Historical Society has the largest number of Dickinson miniatures of any public institution, and The Stamford Historical Society, the second largest number. Within Connecticut, The Connecticut Historical Society, Yale University Art Gallery, and The New Haven Colony Historical Society also own miniatures by Anson Dickinson. The majority of his miniature paintings have not been located, if, in fact, they are extant.

Manuscript Sources

Dickinson, Anson Papers. The Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford, Conn. Dickinson, Anson Papers.

The Stamford Historical Society, Stamford, Conn.

Miscellaneous Papers. Ingraham Memorial Library, The Litchfield Historical Society, Litchfield, Conn.

Bibliography

Connecticut Historical Society Bulletin 23 (April 1958) Dearborn, Mona L.

Anson Dickinson, The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford , Conn.: The Connecticut Historical Society. Dunlap, William.

A History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States. 2 Vol. New York: 1834; reprinted., New York: Dover Publications, 1969.

he Dickinson Family of Milton and Litchfield. Gesner, Anthon Temple. Middletown, Conn., Pelton & King, 1913.

List of Records

Box 1
Folder 1	Photographs of documents included in 1983-85 exhibition. 11 photographs 6 pages from Anson Dickinson's notebook, 1803-1810 2 newspaper advertisements: New Haven and Charleston 1 map of Anson Dickinson's Range in the Northeast
Folder 2	Photographs of Anson Dickinson's tools. 7 photographs Anson Dickinson's paint box, paint wells, paint brushes, and reducing glass
Folder 3	List of Anson Dickinson's New York addresses. 1 item.
Folder 4	Anson Dickinson Exhibit, 1983-85. 5 items "Anson Dickinson 1779-1852" (exhibit text) "The Portrait Miniature" (exhibit text) Exhibit brochure and poster Exhibit postcard
Folder 5	Copies of letters written to Anson Dickinson. 25 items (Originals of letters are in The Connecticut Historical Society, Hartford.)
Folder 6	George Washington Engraving. 4 items Photograph of the engraving 3 photographs of newspaper articles about the engraving, 1830 and 1831.
Folder 7	Anson Dickinson's obituaries. 10 items Obituary from NEW YORK DAILY TIMES (original and photograph) Obituary from Hartford newspaper (original and photograph) Letter from Mrs. S.B. Dickinson to Mary Ann Dickinson Smith about the death of Anson Dickinson, dated Milton, 20 March 1852. (Original in Cruikshank Papers, Stamford Historical Society)
Folder 8	Dickinson-Walker family histories and genealogies. 15 items 8 genealogical charts, compiled by Joyce S. Pendery "The Dickinson Family of Milton and Litchfield" by Rev. Anthon Temple Gesner, 1913 (14 pages) Instructions for locating Blue Swamp Cemetery, Milton Copy of letter from J. P. Walker to Mary Ann Dickinson Smith, Jan. 10 1857. (Original in Cruikshank Papers, Stamford Historical Society) Copy of letter from Lizzie Dickinson, wife of William Edmund Dickinson to Mary Ann Dickinson Smith, concerning a Dickinson portrait miniature of William Edmund, Sept. 5, 1880. (Original in Cruikshank Papers, Stamford Historical Society) Biography of Rev. Anthon Temple Gesner from DICTIONARY OF AMERICAN BIOGRAPHY. Notes on Walker family history, 3 pages. (Original in Cruikshank Papers, Stamford Historical Society) Pedigree chart, showing relationship of Charlotte Dewing Smith Cruikshank to Anson Dickinson.
Folder 9	Papers found with Anson Dickinson miniatures in Cruikshank Bequest to The Stamford Historical Society. 7 items Lists and labels for miniatures in handwriting of Jeannie Smith Hoyt Platt, daughter of Truman Smith and daughter-in-law of Mary Ann Dickinson Smith. One of Anson Dickinson's paint brushes.
Folder 10	"Anson Dickinson: The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852," exhibition held June 1983-February 1985 at The Connecticut Historical Society, The Litchfield Historical Society, and The Stamford Historical Society. Grant application and grants: Connecticut Humanities Council, IBM, and Champion International.
Folder 11	Newspaper and magazine articles and publicity releases for "Anson Dickinson" exhibition.

Box 2
Folder 12	Photographs of Anson Dickinson miniature portraits and contact prints of photographs of Dickinson materials used in exhibit and catalog.
Folder 13	Negatives for photographs used in Dickinson exhibit and catalog.

Inventory: Anson Dickinson Collection

1.	Anson Dickinson (1779-1852) By Edward Greene Malbone Watercolor on Ivory 2 1/2 x 1 7/8 inches, oval Date: between July 7-15, 1804, in New York Accession # C955-300 Published page 29 in: Dearborn, Mona Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852 Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
2.	Cupid and the Graces Watercolor on Ivory 6 7/8 x 4 3/4 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1816 Accession # C955-301 Published page 35 in: Dearborn, Mona Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852 Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
3.	Mary Ann Walker Dickinson (Mrs. Truman Smith 1824-1891) Watercolor on Ivory 2 7/8 x 2 1/4 inches, rectangular Signed l.r.: A Dickinson/ March 183_ Date: March 1838/ 1839 Accession # C955-310 Published page 45 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
4.	Unidentified Young Man Watercolor on Ivory 3 1/4 x 2 5/8 inches, rectangular Signed l.r.: A Dickinson/ 1841 Date: 1841 Accession # C955-302 Published page 46 in: Dearborn,Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
5.	Unidentified Woman with Red Shawl Watercolor on Ivory 3 5/8 x 2 7/8 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1843 Accession # C955-303 Published page 47 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
6.	Scotch Lady By Anson Dickinson after Edward Greene Malbone Watercolor on Ivory 2 5/8 x 2 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1804, New York Accession # C955-315 Published page 51 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
7.	Reuben Dickinson (1716/1717-1818) Pencil and Watercolor on Paper 3 1/2 x 4 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1804-1818 Accession # C955-319 Published page 53 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
8.	Unidentified Woman in White Dress Watercolor on Ivory 2 1/2 x 1 7/8 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1810-1815 Accession # C955-314 Published page 68 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
9.	Unidentified Young Man Watercolor on Ivory 3 3/8 x 2 5/8 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1825-1830 Accession # C955-304 Published page 97 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
10.	Unidentified Man Watercolor on Ivory 3 1/4 x 2 1/2 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1825-1830 Accession # C955-306 Published page 101 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
11.	Mary Ann Walker Dickinson (1824-1891) Watercolor on Ivory 2 1/2 x 2 inches, rectangular Signed l.r.: A Dickinson/ 1828 Date: 1828 Accession # C955-308 Published page 108 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
12.	Raphael Dickinson (?) (1781-1837) Watercolor on Ivory 3 x 2 1/2 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1831 Accession # C955-305 Published page 121 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
13.	Mary Ann Walker Dickinson (Mrs. Truman Smith 1824-1891) Watercolor on Ivory 2 7/8 x 2 1/4 inches, rectangular Signed l.r.: A Dickinson/ 1840 Date: 1840 Accession # C955-309 Published page 136 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
14.	Mary Ann Walker Dickinson (Mrs. Truman Smith 1824-1891) Watercolor on Ivory 3 x 2 112 inches, rectangular Not signed Date: 1846 Accession # C955-313 Published page 139 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
15.	William Edmond Walker Dickinson (1822-1899) Watercolor on Ivory 3 x 2 3/8 inches, oval Not signed Date: 1846 Accession # C955-311 Published page 140 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.
16.	Senator Truman Smith (1791-1884) Watercolor on Ivory 3 1/4 x 2 3/4 inches, rectangular Signed l.r.: A Dickinson/ 184_ Date: 1847 Accession # C955-312 Published page 143 in: Dearborn, Mona. Anson Dickinson The Celebrated Miniature Painter 1779-1852. Hartford: The Connecticut Historical Society, 1983.

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