Abraham de Peyster

• Abraham was born in New Amsterdam ath the Dutch Reformed Church
• 1657 Jul 08; Johannes de Peyster, Cornelia Lubberts; Abraham; Abraham de la Noy & wife, Jan de Jonge

•~ After the Glorious Revolution in which WIlliam of Orange deposed James II of England, New York's Lieutenant Governor Nicholson ill-advisedly attempted to rally pro-James II sentiments. Abraham De Peyster was one of his captain of militia in this effort. (1689). This move resulted in the expulsion of all pro-James officials from New York and the temporary ascent of the command of Jacob Leisler. De Peyster survived these transitions with his authority and reputation intact.

• In 1709 Abraham donated the land for the erection of a new City Hall at Broad and Wall Streets. His prominence as a trader with interests in the West Indies & perhaps London kept his family wealthy.
• (see accounts in the book Gotham. Abraham and the De Peyster family are indexed)

•Abraham de Peyster Memorial, (sculpture).

Artist:

Bissell, George Edwin, 1839-1920, sculptor.

Gruet, founder.

Title:

Abraham de Peyster Memorial, (sculpture).

Dates:

Modeled 1896. Relocated 1972.

Digital Reference:

Medium:

Statue: bronze; Base: polished porphry granite.

Dimensions:

Sculpture: approx. 88 x 48 x 53 in.; Base: approx. 67 x 81 x 84 in.

Inscription:

(On sculpture, lower right:) Geo. E. Bissell/Sculptor 1896 (On sculpture, lower left: E. Gruet Jne. Fondeur/Paris (On front of base:) ABRAHAM DE PEYSTER/1685 ALDERMAN, 1691-95 MAYOR, 1701 COMPTROLLER.,/AND 1708 RECEIVER GENERAL OF THE PORT OF NEW YORK;/1698 MEMBER OF EARL BELLOMONT'S COUNCIL;/1698 ASSOCIATE JUSTICE OF THE SUPREME COURT;/1700 COLONEL COMMANDING REGIMENTS OF MILITIA OR CITY TRAINED BANDS;/ 1701 CHIEF JUSTICE; 1701 PRESIDENT OF THE KINGS COUNCIL AND THUS/ACTING GOVERNOR OF THE PROVINCE OF NEW YORK AND NEW JERSEY/BORN 8TH JULY 1657 - DIED 2ND AUG. 1728/JOHANNES COL. ABRAHAM DE PEYSTER'S FATHER/WAS BURGOMASTER 1673 ALDERMAN 1666-9 1673-6/AND DEPUTY MAYOR, N.Y.1677/JOHANNES JR. HIS SON, ALDERMAN 1700-1-10 MAYOR 1698. (On lower base, front:) ERECTED BY JOHN WATTS DE PEYSTER/7TH GENERATION IN DIRECT DESCENT/RESIDENT OF AND 6TH BORN IN /1ST WARD CITY OF NEW YORK signed

Founder's mark appears.

Description:

Seated figure of De Peyster wearing a curly wig and cape and boots. Reliefs depict the first seal of New York and de Peyster reviewing the colonial regiments.

Owner:

Administered by City of New York, Department of Parks and Recreation, The Arsenal - Central Park, New York, New York 10021

Located Hanover Square, Pearl and William Streets, New York, New York

Provenance:

Formerly located Bowling Green Park, New York, New York 1896-1972.

Remarks:

Abraham de Peyster, was a wealthy merchant and philanthropist who served in a number of government positions in New York, including serving as mayor of New York City from 1692 to 1694, and acting governor of the colony of New York in 1701. The sculpture was designed in Mount Vernon, New York, but was cast in Paris. Funding was provided by John Watts de Peyster (the sitter's great-great-great grandson. In 1972, the city redesigned Bowling Green and moved the sculpture to Hanover Square. IAS files contain copy of New York Times article, Aug. 22, 2003 which discusses possible relocation of sculpture because of Hanover Square park redesign.

Condition:

Surveyed 1994 January. Treatment needed.

References:

Index of American Sculpture, University of Delaware, 1985

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 18.

National Park Service, American Monuments and Outdoor Sculpture Database, NY0217, 1989.

Save Outdoor Sculpture, New York, New York survey, 1994.

Illustration:

Image on file.

Gayle, Margot & Michele Cohen, "Guide to Manhattan's Outdoor Sculpture," New York: Prentice Hall, 1988, pg. 18.

Monumental News, May, 1895, pg. 311.

New York Times, Aug. 22, 2003, A21.

Related Works:

For model see: 76003330.

Note:

The information provided about this artwork was compiled as part of the Smithsonian American Art Museum's Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture database, designed to provide descriptive and location information on artworks by American artists in public and private collections worldwide.

Repository:

Inventories of American Painting and Sculpture, Smithsonian American Art Museum, P.O. Box 37012, MRC 970, Washington, D.C. 20013-7012

Control Number:

IAS 76003482