CITY OF NEW YORK AUCTIONS OFF PORTRAIT TO SATISFY CLAIM
New York City (JFK+50) On December 19, 1922, the portrait of DeWitt Clinton* which had hung on the wall of the assembly room of the Board of Education was removed to be "sold at auction to satisfy a...claim because no appropriation had been made to cover it."
The portrait, painted by William H. Powell** in 1834, was sold to one L.M. Bodenheimer for $175. The New York Tribune reports, however, that "the city is going to bring replevin*** proceedings to get the portrait back."
*DeWitt Clinton (1769-1828) was born in Little Britain, New York & was educated at Princeton & Columbia Universities. DC served as mayor of NYC, US Senator & Governor of NY, 1817-1822, 1825-1828.
**William Henry Powell (1823-1879) was born in NYC & painted "Perry's Victory on Lake Erie," which hangs in the U.S. Capitol.
***Replevin is a process whereby seized goods may be restored to their owner pending the outcome of a legal action to determine the rights of the parties involved.
