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Morse, inventor of Morse code and the telegraph, originally set out
to be an artist and painted numerous portraits of notable figures.
He and Cooper were close friends who traveled to Europe together. Morse often visited the author at his homes in New York City and Cooperstown, most notably in 1829, when he painted several portraits of prominent residents, which can be found in the Fenimore Art Museum’s collection.
![The Crane Family (Susanna Crane 15 years and [10?] months)](/internal/media/dispatcher/4542/thumbnail)
Artist
Samuel Finley Breese Morse
(1791 - 1872)
Related Person
Howard Thomas, Earl of Surrey
(1585 - 1646)
Related Person
James Fenimore Cooper
(1789 - 1851)
Earl of Surrey
Date1829-1837
MediumOil on panel
DimensionsSight: 4 3/4 × 3 7/8 in. (12.1 × 9.8 cm)
Object numberN0004.2017 (06)
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Dr. Henry F. C. Weil
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextHenry Howard, the Earl of Surrey (1517-1547), founder of English Renaissance poetry is credited with introducing the sonnet to England. Though it is unknown when Samuel F. B. Morse painted this portrait, or the source he referenced for the likeness, it was painted for James Fenimore Cooper. Morse, inventor of Morse code and the telegraph, originally set out
to be an artist and painted numerous portraits of notable figures.
He and Cooper were close friends who traveled to Europe together. Morse often visited the author at his homes in New York City and Cooperstown, most notably in 1829, when he painted several portraits of prominent residents, which can be found in the Fenimore Art Museum’s collection.
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