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for Margaret Maclay Bogardus
American, 1804 - 1878
Margaret Maclay was brought to the United States by her parents in 1805. She became a painter of miniatures and exhibited a number of these, including one of her father, the Rev. Archibald Maclay (private collection, Greenwich, Connecticut), at the Academy during the 1840s. She was also represented by four miniatures in the 1839 exhibition of the Royal Academy in London. In 1831, she married James Bogardus, an inventor whose contribution to the history of American architecture was the introduction of the cast-iron front building. For at least a few years in the 1830s, they resided part-time in London.
Acceptance of portraits received in qualification for election as Associate was not being noticed in Council minutes at the time Bogardus' was due; however it may be presumed she had presented this work by the time of the 1846 annual meeting. Old registration records state that the reverse of the canvas, now obscured by a mounting panel, is inscribed with the date 1846, which may refer to its execution or to its acceptance. The portrait surely had been in the Academy's possession for some period of time by the Council's meeting of October 11, 1846, when it was duly noted that the damaged portrait of Mrs. Bogardus was to be repaired. The schedule of Academy property published in 1852 failed to include the work.
Acceptance of portraits received in qualification for election as Associate was not being noticed in Council minutes at the time Bogardus' was due; however it may be presumed she had presented this work by the time of the 1846 annual meeting. Old registration records state that the reverse of the canvas, now obscured by a mounting panel, is inscribed with the date 1846, which may refer to its execution or to its acceptance. The portrait surely had been in the Academy's possession for some period of time by the Council's meeting of October 11, 1846, when it was duly noted that the damaged portrait of Mrs. Bogardus was to be repaired. The schedule of Academy property published in 1852 failed to include the work.
