Benjamin Howard Rand (October 1, 1827 – February 14, 1883) was an American academic physician at Jefferson Medical College. He is depicted in '' Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand'', an 1874 painting by Thomas Eakins. It is oil on

canvas Canvas is an extremely durable plain-woven fabric used for making sails, tents, marquees, backpacks, shelters, as a support for oil painting and for other items for which sturdiness is required, as well as in such fashion objects as handbags ...

and depicts Rand reading a book while petting a cat.

Background

Rand was born in Philadelphia and graduated from Jefferson in 1848. Rand had taught Eakins high school chemistry. From 1852 to 1864, Rand was secretary to the Academy of Natural Sciences. Rand later became the chair of chemistry at the Franklin Institute, the

Philadelphia Medical College Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Since 1 ...

until its closure in 1861, and served as Dean of Jefferson Medical College from 1864 to May 1877. He retired at the age of fifty for health reasons.Scharf, John Thomas and Thompson Westcott (1884). ''History of Philadelphia, 1609-1884.'' L. H. Everts & Co. p. 1625. In April 2007, the portrait of Rand was purchased by Alice L. Walton for an estimated US$20 million and will be housed at the Crystal Bridges Museum of American Art.

References

External links

Portrait of Professor Benjamin H. Rand
via the Eakins Gallery {{DEFAULTSORT:Rand, Benjamin H. 1827 births 1883 deaths Physicians from Philadelphia Jefferson Medical College alumni