Of the two pictures today in the Peekskill Museum, it is assumed that this portrait is that given by the artist in 1918 and catalogued accordingly.
Muller-Ury photographed in his studio in 1893/4 by Edwin Scott Bennett with his oil sketch of Depew. The handwritten date 1916 is spurious.
The Highland Democrat of February 22, 1919 reported that the village of Peekskill trustees held a meeting on the Tuesday preceding and that the president read the following:
‘To the Board of Trustees of the Village of Peekskill;
Gentlemen: —
I have the honor in present to you and through you to the village of Peekskill, a portrait of Chauncey M. Depew. This portrait has been sent to Peekskill by the artist Adolph Muller-Ury.
The history of the portrait is that some years since Mr Muller-Ury was…[illegible text]…paint two portraits…[illegible text]…presented to the Republican Club of the City of New York and the other to the Yale Club. At that time Mr Muller-Ury asked the privilege of painting a portrait for himself, as he was a great admirer of the Senator. He did so and it remained in his studio until a short time since when he communicated to me that he would be pleased to have it placed at the City Hall in Peekskill with his compliments. I have communicated with Mr Depew and he pronounced it a good portrait and one that if the people of Peekskill desired to accept, it was well worth their accepting in evidence of the generosity upon the part of Mr Muller-Ury.
Respectfully submitted,
Leverett F. Crumb
President.’
The article goes on to say that the ‘picture was accepted and a suitable resolution of thanks to the donor was ordered prepared and sent to him’ and that the ‘picture was ordered placed on the wall of the meeting room.’
I am grateful to John Curran for his assistance with this picture.
