Carnegie Mellon University - Andrew Carnegie Online Archives

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  • Subject = Bertram, James, 1872-1934
  • Subject = Portraits

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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(Andrew Carnegie to Samuel Church, May 19, 1911)
(Andrew Carnegie to Samuel Church, May 19, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--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, Butler, Howard Russell, 1856-1934, Painters--United States, Margaret Morrison Carnegie College (Pittsburgh, Pa.), Carnegie Institute. Technical Schools, New York (N.Y.), Carnegie, Andrew, 1835-1919--Correspondence
A handwritten letter from Andrew Carnegie to Samuel H. Church regarding the portrait Anders Zorn painted of Andrew Carnegie. He explains that he had four sitting with Anders Zorn and that Mrs. (Louise) Carnegie, Miss (Estelle) Whitfield and Mrs. (Thetta Quay) Franks do not care for the portrait Zorn painted of him. Carnegie writes that the portrait is sitting facing inwards on a shelf in Mr. James Bertram's office. He writes that Mr. Zorn said that ""some one was to call for it"", but no one has come yet for the portrait. Carnegie writes that the before mentioned ""ladies vote"" for the portrait painted by Howard Russell Butler that hangs ""in our gallery here"". Mr. Carnegie then writes that Mrs. Carnegie bought from Mr. Butler a ""full life size"" painting he did of Carnegie in ""Saint Andrews robes"" that is to be given to the ""Margaret Morrison Ladies School"" or the ""Tech School"" and is ""said to be much finer"". Carnegie concludes the letter by extending an invitation to visit him when ""any of you"" are in New York.
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, Sept 8, 1911)
(John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church, Sept 8, 1911)
Church, Samuel Harden--Correspondence, 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, Carnegie Institute, Board of Trustees, Shaw, George E., Pittsburgh (Pa.), Garber, J. A., Church, Samuel Harden, Church, Bertha Jean, Beatty, John W. (John Wesley), 1851-1924
A typescript letter from John W. Beatty to Samuel H. Church concerning the portrait Anders Zorn painted of Andrew Carnegie. Beatty states that his stenographer has forwarded to him a copy of Church's letter dated August 30, 1911 (i.e. August 31, 1911) minus the ""relative correspondence"". He writes that he is asking her to send him copies of Zorn's letter, presumably dated August 18, 1911 and James Bertram's letter, presumably dated June 30, 1911. He will also ask his stenographer to return the originals to Church. Beatty states that after he receives the copies he will write Church ""more fully"". He writes that he presumes Zorn will enforce payment of the portrait whether it is located in Carnegie's house or ""in our possession"". Beatty states that he doesn't believe Church or the Trustees (Carnegie Institute, Board of Trustees) ""will care to go into a legal battle"" about payment for the portrait. He continues to discuss what could be done about payment for the portrait and refers Church to Mr. Shaw (presumably George E. Shaw, Chairman, Fine Arts Committee, Carnegie Institute) for advice. Beatty states that if the portrait is to be brought here (Pittsburgh, Pa.) then he will have Garber (presumably J. A. Garber) send for it. Includes a P.S. about where Beatty is currently staying and Mr. and Mr. Samuel H. Church's possible visit there. At head of letter states Plymouth, Sept. 8, 1911.
(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, August 31, 1911)
(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"".
(Samuel H. Church to John W. Beatty, May 19, 1911)
(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"".