Smithsonian American Art Museum
General John J. Pershing
Moses Wainer Dykaar, born Vilna, Russia 1884-died New York City 1933 · 1932
General John Joseph “Black Jack” Pershing was commander in chief of the American Expeditionary Force in France during World War I. Pershing admired this portrait by Moses Dykaar, and a close friend of his, General George Squier, organized a campaign to buy the bust. The promoter of the campaign, Alfred Layton, saw this as an opportunity to make his own fortune and sent out thousands of letters asking for money in Squier’s name. He raised a total of eleven thousand dollars and in 1934 was indicted for fraud.
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