Existing comment:
Commodore Oliver H. Perry, USN (1785-1819)
by Joseph Wood
A companion on the wall in the carriage entrance has been this likeness of Matthew's older brother and the naval leader and hero of the Battle of Lake Erie during the War of 1812, Oliver Hazard Perry. It is probably among the earliest works of art actually commissioned by the Department of the Navy. Note how the subject floats in space. The profile image was made as a study of the subject for the use by a die sinker at the United States Mint, Philadelphia. It played a crucial role in the production of the gold medal voted by the United States Congress to honor Perry for winning the Battle of Lake Erie in 1813. This image appears on the obverse or front of the medal. |