Captain Warren Delano c. 1852

Charles Loring Elliott painted this oil on canvas portrait of Captain Warren Delano in the mid-19th century. Delano made his fortune as an opium trader with Russel & Company, and he was the grandfather of Franklin Delano Roosevelt. Portraits like this one were often commissioned to signal social status. The sitter's clothing and bearing, along with the artist's skill, would convey a sense of wealth, power, and respectability to viewers. This painting is no exception. The dark, heavy suit and the cane indicate Delano’s high position in society. But the rosy cheeks and somewhat softened features also hint at a moral ambivalence, and the somewhat plain background does not give much away. To better understand this painting, we can investigate the history of Russel & Company. Through the archives of the company and the personal papers of the Delano family, we can better understand the social and political history of this image.