Ira Allen
20th century
Medium
Painting-Miniature
Classification
Painting-Miniature
Department
Smithsonian Collection
Museum
Smithsonian American Art Museum
Credit
Smithsonian American Art Museum, Gift of Mrs. Norvin H. Green
Accession Number
1941.5.3
Tags
About this artwork
Ira Allen, younger brother of the patriot Ethan Allen, was born in Connecticut in 1751 and played a major role in the founding of Vermont. He owned a large amount of land and was heavily involved in trade in the young Republic. In 1796, Allen traveled on the American ship Olive Branch with fifteen thousand muskets meant to equip French-Canadian and American recruits for a rebellion in Canada. A British warship captured the Olive Branch, however, and Allen spent the next several years in confinem...
Art Historical Context
This exquisite miniature painting depicts Ira Allen, the younger brother of Revolutionary War hero Ethan Allen, in a dignified bust portrait. Created by an unidentified artist in the 20th century, the work captures Ira's likeness in a compact format typical of miniature paintings—small-scale portraits prized for their intimacy and portability. Housed in the Smithsonian American Art Museum as a gift from Mrs. Norvin H. Green, it exemplifies the enduring tradition of miniatures, which allowed for detailed, jewel-like renditions of notable figures long after their time. Ira Allen (1751–1814) was...
About the Artist
Unidentified ( ) · –