Manton Eastburn (1801-1872), founding reverend of the Church of the Ascension at 5th Avenue and 10th Street in New York, was born in Leeds, England. Brought to America as a child, Eastburn graduated from Columbia in 1817. After studying at the General Protestant Episcopal Theological Seminary, he was ordained in 1822. Eastburn served as officiated as assistant minister at Christ Church, New York before forming the Church of the Ascension. Chosen in 1842 to assist Bishop Griswold in Massachusetts, he succeeded Griswold as Bishop of the diocese of Massachusetts.

Set in the original hinged leather case with patterned brass mat, retaining the sitter's identification on the reverse.
3 3/16 inches high.

Thomas Seir Cummings (1804-1894) wrote "Works in miniature should possess the same beauty of composition, correctness of drawing, breadth of light and shade, brilliancy, truth of colour, and firmness of touch, as works executed on a larger scale." This exactly describes Cummings' own work. With other celebrated artists including Henry Inman and Samuel F. B. Morse, Cummings founded the National Academy of Design in 1826. He taught there for over 30 years, leaving an indelible mark on the next generations of artists. Cummings was one of the 19th century's most important miniaturists.