Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Henry Ford Museum of American Innovation, Ford Rouge Factory Tour and Giant Screen Experience will be closed Monday, March 16, for a day of staff learning and development. We appreciate your patience and understanding.

Portrait of Mark Twain, by Edoardo Gelli, 1904

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Artifact Overview

American author and humorist Mark Twain (1835-1910), whose real name was Samuel L. Clemens commissioned this portrait during his family's extended stay in Italy. Clemens was invited to lecture at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair, but was unable to attend, due to his wife's poor health. Instead, Clemens sent this portrait, which he characteristically described as "better than the original".

Artifact Details

Artifact

Portrait

Date Made

1904

Subject Date

1904

Creators

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Edoardo Gelli painted this portrait in Florence, Italy.

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Fully Furnished

Object ID

36.880.1

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Clara Clemens Gabrilowitsch.

Material

Canvas
Oil paint (Paint)

Technique

Gilding (Technique)
Oil painting (Technique)

Color

Brown
Multicolored
White (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 38 in
Width: 28 in

Keywords
Portrait of Mark Twain, by Edoardo Gelli, 1904