Mary Okill (about 1786 - 1859, New York)
Certificate of Excellence, January 1855
Ink on paper, 16.5 x 22.4 cm (6 1/2 x 8 13/16 in.)
This is a school Certificate of Excellence presented to Isabella Stewart in January 1855, when she was almost 15 years old. At the center top, is the title “Excellence” in cursive. Below the title is an ancient greek or roman scene, with an armored and gowned woman sitting between two columns with her hand above the head of a kneeling and bowed young woman. The scene is set in a horizontal oval shape with cloud-like shrubbery at the top and to our right, and a background scene of a stream and mountain to our left. “Virtuous emulation crowned with honor” is printed above the scene and “Daughter receive thy reward” is in small italic type below the scene. The cursive certificate centered below entitles the named person to “A premium on the first of July next … if she remain till the close of school to receive it.” The certificate is signed by Mary Okill, and another handwriting completed Isabella Stewart’s name, the date, and added for “Excellence in Reviews”. An envelope accompanies the certificate with “I. Stewart” written on the lower border and a centered, gold-printed vertical oval depicting a globe, books, map, writing quill, and the words “INSTITUTION PRIX DE Mme OKILL” circling in the outer border.
Vatichino
Commentary
Isabella Stewart Gardner kept meticulous records of many of her acquisitions. In keeping with this legacy, object information is continually being reviewed, updated, and enriched in order to give greater access to the collection.