The Cleveland Museum of Art

Collection Online as of March 15, 2026

Portrait of John D. Rockefeller

1857–58

William C. North

(American, 1814–1890)
America
ambrotype, sixth plate
Overall: 9.5 x 8.3 cm (3 3/4 x 3 1/4 in.)
Gift of Stephan Loewentheil 2023.130
Location: Not on view

Did You Know?

John D. Rockefeller was around 18 and working as an assistant bookkeeper when he went to have his portrait taken.

Description

This elegant, spare portrait unites two significant figures in the history of Cleveland. Its subject is oil magnate and entrepreneur John D. Rockefeller (1839–1937), the founder of Standard Oil and perhaps the world’s first billionaire. His photograph was taken by William C. North, arguably the most eminent early Cleveland photographer.
  • John D. Rockefeller, Cleveland and New York
    By inheritance to Alta Rockefeller Prentice and Ezra Parmelee Prentice, New York, NY, c. 1937
    By inheritance to Mary Adeline Prentice Gilbert and Benjamin Davis Gilbert, c. 1962
    Bloomsbury Book Auctions, New York, lot 225, October 31, 2007, sold to Stephan Loewentheil
    Stephan Loewentheil, New York, NY, 2007, given to The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, September 11, 2023
    The Cleveland Museum of Art, Cleveland, OH, September 11, 2023–
  • John D. Rockefeller, Random Reminiscences of Men and Events, New York: Doubleday, Page & Company, 1909. frontispiece www.gutenberg.org
  • {{cite web|title=Portrait of John D. Rockefeller|url=false|author=William C. North|year=1857–58|access-date=15 March 2026|publisher=Cleveland Museum of Art}}

Source URL:

https://www.clevelandart.org/art/2023.130