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The following lots 94-113 were purchased by Toledo Museum from Miss
Mary Swett, Brookline, Massachusetts - 1924. The collection was
originally owned by her aunt and uncle. Her uncle was Mr. Francis
Alexander (February 3, 1800 – March 27, 1880) who was an American
portrait painter. He was born in Windham county Connecticut in
February 1800 and taught himself early how to paint. In 1820 he went to
New York and painted under Alexander Robertson. Alexander spent
considerable time abroad in Italy and married Lucia Gray Swett in 1836 in
Florence. Alexander’s portraits were very popular and some of his more
famous sitters are Noah Webster, President Andrew Johnson & Charles
Dickens. He died in Rome on March 27, 1880. Lots 107-113 have hand
written stickers which give further pedigree to 1878. Many of those pieces
in this collection originally came from Sigismondo Castromediana (1811-
1895), Duke of Caballino, near Lecce. The Duke gave the Alexander’s these
pieces as gifts for their generosity to him.
Collections of Mr. & Mrs. Francis Alexander
Miss Mary Swett, Brookline, Massachusetts
Sigismondo Castromediana, Duke of Caballino
Self Portait of Francis Alexander