Justin Perkins and Mar Yohannan

Object Details

Artist

Auguste Edouart, 1788 - 1861

Sitter

Justin Perkins, 1805 - 1869

Mar Yohannan, 18th century

Exhibition Label

Early America was home to many global citizens. Congregationalist minister Justin Perkins and Assyrian Church of the East bishop Mar Yohannan met in Persia (now Iran) when Perkins lived there as a missionary. Perkins spread his faith as he opened up schools that he believed would improve the lives of Persians. Yohannan taught Perkins the Syriac language; Perkins then translated the New Testament, hymns, and religious tracts into Syriac. Yohannan traveled with Perkins to the United States in 1842 and 1843. Yohannan’s willingness to interact with people of many faiths—including Lutherans, Presbyterians, and Baptists—and his title of “bishop” concerned some Episcopalians. In this portrait, Perkins holds a book and listens to Yohannan speak. Auguste Edouart made Yohannan’s religious, linguistic, and ethnic differences from Perkins clear. Yohannan’s signature in Syriac is glued to the top of the image. His long, tapered beard and hat are distinctive, while his flowing robe is similar to those worn by leaders of other faiths.

Muchos ciudadanos de otros países hicieron su hogar en la joven nación estadounidense. Justin Perkins, ministro congregacionista, y Mar Yohannan, obispo de la Iglesia asiria de Oriente, se conocieron en Persia (actual Irán) cuando el primero hacía labor misionera allí. Perkins predicaba su fe fundando escuelas que creía mejorarían la vida de los persas. Yohannan le enseñó el lenguaje siríaco y Perkins tradujo a éste el Nuevo Testamento, himnos y tratados religiosos. Yohannan viajó con Perkins a Estados Unidos en 1842 y 1843. Su disposición para interactuar con gente de diversa fe (luteranos, presbiterianos, bautistas, etc.) y su título de “obispo” fueron motivo de inquietud para algunos clérigos episcopales. En este retrato, Perkins sostiene un libro y escucha a Yohannan. Auguste Edouart quiso dejar claras las diferencias religiosas, lingüísticas y étnicas entre Yohannan y Perkins. La firma de Yohannan en siríaco está pegada en la parte superior de la imagen. Su larga barba terminada en punta y su sombrero son distintivos, pero su amplia túnica guarda semejanza con las de otros líderes religiosos.

Credit Line

National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution; gift of Robert L. McNeil, Jr.

1842

Object number

S/NPG.91.126.80.A

Restrictions & Rights

CC0

Type

Silhouette

Medium

Lithograph and cut paper on paper

Dimensions

Image/Sheet: 28 × 21.1 cm (11 × 8 5/16")

Frame: 47.9 × 37.8 × 3.2 cm (18 7/8 × 14 7/8 × 1 1/4")

See more items in

National Portrait Gallery Collection

Location

Currently not on view

National Portrait Gallery

Topic

Costume\Headgear\Hat

Printed Material\Book

Silhouette\Cut-out

Exterior\Church

Architecture\Building\Church

Nature & Environment\Plant\Tree

Mar Yohannan: Male

Mar Yohannan: Religion and Spirituality\Clergy\Prelate\Bishop

Justin Perkins: Male

Justin Perkins: Religion and Spirituality\Missionary

Portrait

Record ID

npg_S_NPG.91.126.80.A

Metadata Usage (text)

CC0

GUID (Link to Original Record)

http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/sm4299e3943-f707-443f-a351-577b5d914aef