We all know the name of Raffles in Singapore, but did you know that the most valuable artefact in the collection of the National Museum of Singapore is this portrait of Sir Frank Swettenham?
Sir Frank Athelstane Swettenham was the first resident-general of Federated Malay States from 1896 to 1901. Sir Frank also wrote one of the first English-Malay dictionaries.
The painting itself was done by the accomplished John Singer Sargent, who is widely thought as the best portrait painter of his time. The creator of this painting, and the subject of the creation is what makes the portrait of Frank Swettenham the most valuable artefact at the NAMOS collection
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