Portrait of Anna Chastain c. 1845-50, Samuel Shaver
William King Museum of Art is pleased to have received the 2021 Richmond Conservation Studio Grant for the conservation of a portrait by the 19th century artist, Samuel Shaver. The sitter is Anna Chastain, c. 1845-50, as a young teenager. She was born in Smyth County, VA, and her family moved to Kentucky when she was eight but later moved to Abingdon for her education. The portrait was painted by Samuel Shaver, whose uncle, Michael Shaver, was a silversmith in Abingdon. Samuel Shaver was a prolific portrait artist working in the nearby Tennessee counties of Sullivan and Hawkins. He later moved to Knoxville where he became known for his portraits of politicians, business tycoons, military leaders, and children. His later paintings, like this one, featured a background landscape.
William King Museum of Art announces that it has received the 2021 Richmond Conservation Studio Grant for the conservation of a portrait by the 19th century artist, Samuel Shaver.
The sitter is Anna Chastain, c. 1845-50, as a young teenager. She was born in Smyth County, Virginia, and her family moved to Kentucky when she was 8 but later came to Abingdon for her education. The portrait was painted by Samuel Shaver, whose uncle, Michael Shaver, was a silversmith in Abingdon.
Samuel Shaver was a prolific portrait artist working in the nearby Tennessee counties of Sullivan and Hawkins. He later moved to Knoxville where he became known for his portraits of politicians, business tycoons, military leaders and children. His later paintings, like this one, featured a background landscape.
The Conservation Grant is a joint project of the Richmond Conservation Studio and the Virginia Association of Museums. Rebecca Guest, Virginia Association of Museums’ Membership & Development Manager, said “VAM is thrilled to once again work with the Richmond Conservation Studio on this exciting project. Congrats to the William King Museum of Art for being selected as the 2021 Conservation Grant recipient.”
William King Museum of Art is open seven days a week: Monday through Wednesday, Friday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. to 8 p.m., and Sunday from 1- 5 p.m. Admission is free. Accredited by the American Alliance of Museums, William King Museum of Art is a partner of the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, a member of the Virginia Association of Museums, and is funded in part by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts.
For more information about the musuem or to register for classes and workshops, visit www.williamkingmuseum.org.
