Biography

Excerpt from Museum of Fine Arts Bulletin, 1904, Vol. II, No. I:
"Arthur Price, Custodian in the Picture Galleries, died on December 28, in his seventieth year, after an absence from the Museum of several months on account of illness. To many visitors to the Museum Mr. Price was the best known of its personnel. Every questioner found in him the ready source of abundant information about the pictures he guarded; the oftentold story seemed always fresh to him, and for his zeal in telling it a very large number of people in Boston remember him with sincere gratitude. Of not a few his goodness of heart, his cheery simplicity and homely wit had made him the warm personal friend. He respected his position, and therefore was himself respected. He meant to do his day's work well, and still retained in his quiet sphere all the vivacity and interest in life that had marked his earlier years. He was born at Cersey, near Windsor, England, September 19, 1834. At eighteen he joined the army and later saw much service in India. Coming to America, he became the personal attendant of William H. Seward, formerly Secretary of State of the United States, and accompanied him on his tour around the world in 1870. In 1881, he was engaged at the Museum as Custodian on the days of free opening, and June 2 1882, entered its regular service as Custodian of Pictures. For twenty - ? years and until his end he held this position , in which he gave a striking example of what an untrained mind, by observation, enthusiasm, and fidelity, may do for itself. In his death one more personality associated with the Museum since its earliest years surrenders its task to younger hands."