Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives

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  • Original Format = image/jp2; 2 p. ; 27 cm.
  • Subject = Art commissions

About This Collection

This collection contains primary resources about Carnegie's bequests along with supporting explanatory text, that teachers will be able to use as part of their curriculum.
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(John W. Beatty to Andrew Carnegie, December 16, 1911)
Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence, Walton, Edward Arthur, 1860-1922--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Walton, Edward Arthur, 1860-1922, Painters--Scotland, Portraits, Art commissions, University of St. Andrews, Carnegie International, Skibo (Scotland), Lavery, John, 1856-1941
A typescript letter from John W. Beatty to Andrew Carnegie concerning a photograph of a portrait of Andrew Carnegie painted by Edward A. Walton. Beatty writes that he has delayed answering Carnegie's letter of November 24, 1911 because he received a letter from Edward A. Walton informing him that he mailed a photograph of Carnegie's portrait (presumably the portrait Walton painted of Carnegie commissioned by St. Andrews University) and he intended to send it to the coming international exhibition (presumably the Carnegie International). The photograph was not received by the Carnegie Institute and Beatty asks Carnegie if he received it. Beatty writes that they would be ""delighted to receive Walton's portrait"" and remarks that they already have one of his ""important paintings"" in their ""permanent collection"". Mr. Walton expressed to Beatty his delight at visiting Carnegie at Skibo. Beatty concludes by writing that the exhibition next spring should be a ""fine"" one and the painter, John Lavery, from Ireland, will furnish the ""special honor group"".
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(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, August 31, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920--Correspondence, Bertram, James, 1872-1934, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions
A typescript letter from Secretary, presumably Samuel H. Church, to John W. Beatty concerning the portrait Anders Zorn painted of Andrew Carnegie. Church states that he is enclosing correspondence from Anders Zorn, dated August 18, 1911 and James Bertram, presumably dated June 30, 1911. He asks Beatty to return the enclosed correspondence to him after he has read it. Church states that Bertram's negative opinion of the portrait is the same as Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie. He asks Beatty what they should do about the portrait. He writes that Bertram ""has enclosed an order for the portrait"" and asks Beatty if they should get the portrait from Carnegie's house before he returns from abroad or ""sit tight and do nothing more until something drops"". A P.S. is included stating that Mr. and Mrs. Church stopped at Plymouth for a couple of days and they are ""about ready to join"" Beatty and Mr. Hamerschlag ""as members of the Plymouth colony next year"".
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(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Art commissions, Portraits, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Carnegie, Louise, Whitfield, Estelle, Franks, Thetta Quay, Bertram, James, 1872-1934
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty in regards to a portrait of Andrew Carnegie that was painted by Anders Zorn. In the letter Church refers to a telegram he sent Beatty from the train he was on May 19, 1911 in which he stated ""that the Zorn portrait of Mr. Carnegie is a total failure"". Church writes that Mr. Carnegie, Mrs. (Louise) Carnegie, Miss (Estelle) Whitfield and Mrs. (Thetta Quay) Franks all dislike the portrait. Church states that Carnegie thinks that the portrait looks like a ""beer-swilling, lounging German"" and is a ""libelous canvas"". The portrait has been placed facing inwards on a shelf in James Bertram's office. Carnegie was told by Zorn that someone would ""call for it"" but no one has done so yet. Church believes that if the portrait is that bad he thinks that ""we should reject it"" and not pay the $7,000 fee for the portrait. In his above mentioned telegram he asked Beatty to take one or two experts to look at the painting. Church writes that he has written to Carnegie to inform him that Beatty will call on him to look at the portrait. Signed Secretary. Includes a P.S. with a note that Church has asked Mr. Bruce to sign letter for him and another P.S. that he also just received Beatty's telegram presumably of May 19, 1911. He asks Beatty to send him a wire on Monday ""so that I will know what is in the air"".
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(S.H. Church to Anders L. Zorn, April 15, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence, Carnegie Institute. Board of Trustees, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Art commissions, Portraits, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930--Portraits, Portraits, New York (N.Y.), Pittsburgh (Pa.), Founder's Day (Carnegie Institute), Carnegie Institute--Anniversaries, etc.
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to Anders L. Zorn stating that the Trustees of the Carnegie Institute authorize him to paint a portrait of Andrew Carnegie, ""for a price not to exceed $5,000"". Church writes that he understands that Zorn will begin painting Carnegies portrait when he is done with President Taft's portrait. He then writes that he wants Zorn to inform him when Mr. Carnegie will be expected for the first sitting. Church explains that Carnegie will leave New York City on April 26th to go to Pittsburgh, Pa. to the Founder's Day celebration and will return to New York City on April 26th. He asks Zorn if he would start the portrait before Carnegie leaves for Pittsburgh and resume when he returns to New York. Church asks Zorn to please acknowledge receipt. In a P.S. Church states that they want Zorn to paint a larger portrait of Carnegie and asks what the size would be for the $7,000 price.
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(S.H. Church to Andrew Carnegie, April 12, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence, Carnegie Institute. Board of Trustees, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Art commissions, Cleveland, Grover, 1837-1908, Hill, David Jayne, 1850-1932
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to Andrew Carnegie regarding a resolution by the Carnegie Institute Board of Trustees to authorize a portrait to be painted of Andrew Carnegie. If this is agreeable to Carnegie, Church recommends Swedish painter, Anders L. Zorn to do the portrait. Mr. Zorn had painted the portraits of President Cleveland and Ambassador Hill. Includes signature of S.H. Church and penciled notations.
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(S.H. Church to James Bertram, July 13, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, Bertram, James, 1872-1934--Correspondence, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Portraits, Philanthropists--United States--Portraits, Zorn, Anders, 1860-1920, Painters--Sweden, Portraits, Art commissions, Carnegie, Louise, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919, Taft, William H. (William Howard), 1857-1930, Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Homes and haunts--New York (State)--New York
A typescript letter from Samuel H. Church to James Bertram concerning a portrait of Andrew Carnegie that was painted by Anders Zorn. Church writes that he received Bertram's private letter dated June 30, 1911 and he states that they (presumably Carnegie Institute, Board of Trustees) are all very disappointed with the portrait. He relates that he went to New York to inspect Zorn's portrait and he agrees with Mr. and Mrs. Andrew Carnegie's opinions of the portrait. Church notes that ""while Mr. Zorn may be one of the world's greatest portrait painters "", he feels that he rushed in painting the portrait and didn't pay enough attention to the portrait. He writes that Zorn gave President Taft eight sittings and Andrew Carnegie only four. His portrait of President Taft is ""said to be a good one"". Church states that he wrote to Zorn and told him the portrait of Carnegie was a failure. He has included a copy of the letter to Anders Zorn. The paining is being left at Carnegie's house for now. A P.S. states that he returns the private memorandum Bertram sent to him.
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