The Boston Boys and General Gage, 1775

Henry Bacon [1839-1912]. Purchased by George Gebbie [August 24, 1832-August 13, 1892], Philadelphia;[1] purchased by the Corcoran Gallery of Art, Washington, DC, April 12, 1886-by June 14, 1886;[2] purchased by William Wilson Corcoran [1798-1888], Washington, DC, by June 14, 1886-June 15, 1886;[3] gift to Preparatory School at Columbian College, now the George Washington University, Washington, DC, June 15, 1886. [1] According to letters from Gebbie to a William MacLeod, a Mr. Rogers of the Tradesmen's Bank in Philadelphia, paid $4,000 for the picture, but Bacon wanted it to go to the Boston Museum. The City of Boston had agreed already agreed to pay $6,000 for the painting, but Rogers is like Charles H. Rogers (14 Jun 1811 - 31 Dec 1884), (See Letter 3746, which contains three letters from George Gebbie to William MacLeod dated March 20, 1886, April 8, 1886, and April 9, 1886). [2] See the "Journal of the Official Proceedings of the Trustees of the Corcoran Gallery of Art," Vol. 1, April 12, 1886, p. 303. The painting was never added to the "Register of Paintings Belonging to the Corcoran Gallery of Art, 1869-1946." [3] According to William MacLeod journal entry for June 15, 1886: "It appears by last night’s proceedings of the Board, that Mr Gebbie’s offer to sell the whole of his photoglyptics of “Boston Boys” is declined for the reason that Mr Corcoran has in addition to $25,000 donated to the Columbian University, presented the painting of Fen Gage & the “Boston Boys”. The picture thus leaving this Gallery, the photoglyptics are not desirable. Wrote to Mr Gebbie, the result, as it stands at present, [...]. Mr Corcoran called & had the “Boston Boys” removed and sent to the University (Preparatory Department,) & also ordered the lot of prints of it, to be sent with it [...]. The picture will be much missed, for it was very popular." (See Transcript of William MacLeod Journal, June 15, 1886).