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Portrait of Man with Masonic Pin
1896
Edward Hill (1843-1923)
USA: New Hampshire (probably)
oil on canvas
stretcher: 27-1/4"h x 20"w x 1"d; frame: 30"h x 23-1/4"w x 1-1/4"d
Museum Purchase
2015.048

Bust-length portrait of unidentified man. Neutral brown background. Subject has gray hair and a gray mustache and beard. He wears a dark coat and a white shirt. At the center of his shirt is a yellow Masonic pin - square and compasses. Signed and dated at lower right corner.


Unfortunately, we do not know the name of this man, but his choice to wear his Masonic pin in his portrait suggests not only that he was a Freemason, but that his membership was valued by him. The artist, Edward Hill, was also a Freemason, joining lodges in Massachusetts, New Hampshire and Oregon as his career took him to each state. This portrait was painted while Hill lived in New Hampshire and may have been one of his fellow lodge members. "Recent Acquisitions," June 2016 - July 2017