7227

Ambrose Swasey 1931

Seated three-quarter length to the left, full face to the viewer, wearing a black suit, wing collar and blue tie with a jewelled tie-pin and a gold watch chain, a gold ring with a red stone on the little finger of his left hand, resting both arms on the arms of the chair, a dark gold brocade curtain behind him to the left

Oil on canvas, 129.6 x 96.6 cm (51 x 38 in.)

Inscribed [to be verified]: de László 1931

Sitters’ Book II, opp. f. 70: U.S.A. Ambrose Swasey October 27th 1931 / Cleveland Ohio

Greater Cleveland Growth Association, on permanent loan to the Western Reserve Historical Society, Cleveland, Ohio

A preparatory drawing for this portrait remains in the collection of a descendant of the artist [111695]. The artist’s diary indicates that he also painted a study of the sitter, which remains untraced [44].

The present portrait was painted in New York for the Chamber of Commerce of Cleveland, Ohio, where the sitter had served as president. The Chamber had also commissioned de László to paint Myron T. Herrick [5601] in 1922. The sittings for the present portrait began on 27 October and de László recorded his impression of Swasey in his diary: “something very severe about him & great dignity” and “looks like Henry IV of france – white in white with a white character!...his portrait must be worthy of Herrick at the Cleveland [Chamber].”^[1] Swasey sat nearly every day until the portrait was completed on 5 November.

On 19 December 1931 the portrait was unveiled in a ceremony at the Chamber of Commerce. De László presented Swasey with a copy of Selections from the Work of P.A. de László (1921) with the dedication: “In memory of the 19th December 1931 / To my much esteemed friend / Dr. Ambrose Swasey / Cleveland / P. A. de László.”

De László travelled with his friend Harvey Firestone, Jr [110650] to his home in Akron, Ohio, and then to Cleveland to attend the unveiling of the finished portrait at the Chamber of Commerce on 19 December 1931. The artist recorded the event in detail: “I  was received by mrs Havens The intelligent acting Sec. of the Chamber – showed round – great Banquet – amongst other portraits saw my Herrick portrait  – which I count amongst my very best work[s] - & fulfils my ambition – I arranged the place & light – of my Swasey portrait – which is probably more powerful – but without the finess[e] of the former man – began to gather – they were 90 in number to honour Swasey their former President – by unveiling his portrait in his 85th birthday - & honour me – We sat down – in the centre President side – young clever Head of the largest Electrical Comp: by birth Norvegian [sic] in this free Count[r]y where qualities only counts – on his right Swasey. On The left of the president myself & the other speakers – a life long friend of Swasey D.W. Gerry – Morgan  from Washington & Calvin W. Rice Se. to the American Society of Mechanical Engineers – of N.Y. – for which just – I will paint the portrait of President Hoover [5787] – all great citicen [sic] were present amongst other this great art collector & business man – mr Prentice & Mr John Long Severance – both man [sic] of standing - & many prominent man. I was asked to speak as The second after the president – the subject of mine was less serious – but amusing – I had great success – so that I raised with glas[s] in their hand the 90 man to their feet -  I also had to unveil the portrait – which was received with great ac[c]lamation– it went of[f] well & I felt happy that it was over.”^[2] 

The artist’s diary indicates that the sitter was instrumental in de László receiving the commission to paint President Herbert Hoover [5787] for the American Society of Mechanical Engineers.^[3] Swasey was present at the unveiling of the portrait in New York in February 1932.

Ambrose Swasey was born 19 December 1846 in Exeter, New Hampshire, son of Nathaniel Swasey and his wife Abigail. As a young man he was an apprentice machinist at the Exeter Machine Works. He rose to the position of foreman in the gear-cutting section and developed a new technique for making gear-tooth cutters. In 1880 he formed a partnership with Worcester R. Warner to build and sell machine tools. The partnership grew into the Warner & Swasey Co. of Cleveland, Ohio.^[4] Swasey held several patents on gear-cutting machinery and became a designer of astronomical instruments, for which their company became world-famous. He was a founding member of the American Society of Mechanical Engineers in 1880 and served on several government agencies including the National Research Council during the First World War. Swasey was a generous benefactor of higher education and Baptist missionary work giving a total of $890,000 to the United Engineering Society in New York for the establishment of an engineering foundation to promote research.

In 1871 Swasey married Lavinia Marston of Exeter; they had no children. They moved to Cleveland when the company relocated there from Chicago in 1881. Swasey died at Exeter on 15 June 1937.

The sitter was also portrayed in a bust by sculptor Daniel Chester French circa 1922.^[5]

PROVENANCE:

Presented to the Greater Cleveland Growth Association (formerly the Cleveland Chamber of Commerce);

On permanent loan to the Western Reserve Historical Society

LITERATURE:

•László, Philip de, 1931 diary, private collection, 22 October entry, p. 299, 27 October entry, p. 304, 28 October entry, p. 305, 29 October entry, p. 306, 30 October entry, p. 307, 31 October entry, p. 308; 2 November entry, p. 310, 3 November entry, p. 311, 5 November entry, p. 313, 21 November entry, p. 329, 19 December entry, p. 357

•László, Philip de, 1933-1934 diary, private collection, 18 January 1934 entry, p. 81

MD & KF 2016