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Francis Davis Millet: Visual Arts\Artist\Illustrator
Francis Davis Millet: Journalism and Media\Journalist\Reporter\Newspaper
Francis Davis Millet: Visual Arts\Artist\Painter\Muralist
Francis Davis Millet: Literature\Publisher\Book
Francis Davis Millet: Journalism and Media\Journalist\Correspondent
Portrait
Credit Line
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; bequest of Dr. John A. P. Millet
Restrictions & Rights
CC0
Object number
NPG.78.205
Exhibition Label
Born Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Possessed of an inherent wanderlust, Francis Davis Millet traveled widely during his varied career as a foreign newspaper correspondent, painter, and arts administrator. After studying at Antwerp’s Royal Academy of Fine Arts (1871–73), Millet completed several major mural projects, contributed to four world’s fairs, and was the center of an expatriate American artists’ colony in England.
Millet served as a war correspondent for newspapers in New York and London during the Russo Turkish War (1877–78) and the Spanish American War (1898). This portrait, painted in Paris by his friend George Willoughby Maynard, shows Millet wearing Russian and Romanian medals awarded for bravery under fire.
In 1912, while serving as director of the American Academy in Rome, Millet set sail for New York and was among the approximately 1,500 passengers who perished on the Titanic when the ship sank. He is honored by a memorial fountain on the Ellipse in Washington, D.C.
Nacido en Mattapoisett, Massachusetts
Con un espíritu viajero innato, Francis Davis Millet visitó muchos lugares a lo largo de su variada carrera como corresponsal de prensa en el extranjero, pintor y administrador de las artes. Educado en la Real Academia de Bellas Artes de Amberes (1871–73), realizó proyectos murales importantes, participó en cuatro ferias mundiales y fue figura central de una colonia de artistas estadounidenses expatriados en Inglaterra.
Millet fue corresponsal de periódicos de Nueva York y Londres durante la Guerra Ruso-Turca (1877– 78) y la Guerra Hispano-Estadounidense (1898). En este retrato pintado en París por su amigo George Willoughby Maynard aparece con sus medallas rusas y rumanas por valentía en el campo de batalla.
En 1912, siendo director de la Academia Americana en Roma, Millet tomó el barco Titanic hacia Nueva York y pereció junto a unos 1,500 pasajeros al hundirse la nave. En el parque de la Elipse, en Washington D.C., se le rinde homenaje con una fuente conmemorativa.
Provenance
John A. P. Millet, son of the sitter; bequest to NPG 1977
