Blyth, Benjamin
From Salem Links and Lore
- Benjamin Blyth (or Blythe, 1746-1811). Blyth was a colonial portrait pastellist, whose subjects included Abigail and John Adams in the early years of their marriage.
- "Blyth produced over two dozen pastel portraits during his career, but attribution is difficult because he seldom signed his work. Two other prominent people who were painted by Blyth were Dr. Edward Augustus Holyoke (1728-1829), physician, scientist, and early adopter of the controversial smallpox vaccination method (he inoculated himself during the epidemic of 1777) and architect-woodcarver Samuel McIntire" according to Donna Seger's blog Streets of Salem.
- In 1782, Blyth left Salem for Richmond, Virginia, where he married and continued his pastel portraiture.
See Also
Painting Abigail and apple blossoms Streets of Salem blog
