Painted portrait of John Pearsol by Arthur Armstrong. Seated man faces slightly right. Dark hair parted on his right. Clean shaven except for fringe beard. Grey blue eyes. Black coat, black waistcoat, white shirt, and black bowtie. Reddish chair back visible at left. Dark brown background with blue and pale red at right of arm. Canvas mounted onto masonite. Small envelope pasted to bottom center inscribed "John. H. Pearsol." Paper tape on joint of maosnite and frame.
Cnavs: extensive craquelure Varnish somewhat darkened. Two tiny areas of paint loss at lower left.
Frame streaks of dark brush marks. minor gesso chipping.
Object ID
2013.006.2
Notes
Label:
John H. Pearsol and Cecilia Pearsol
Arthur Armstrong, circa 1847
John H. Pearsol (1818-1887) was a well-known printer for many years in Lancaster County. He was also a reformer. During America's Age of Reform, Pearsol dedicated his life to the Temperance Movement, a widespread, organized campaign aimed at regulating and even prohibiting the consumption of alcohol.
Portrait of Mrs. John Pearsol by Arthur Armstrong. Seated woman facing slightly left. Dark brownhair parted twice, gathered at back of head. Blue grey eyes. Light colored pleated dress with horizontal stripes, lace collar and v neckline. Large rectangluar brooch at neck. long gold chain leads to watch at waist. reddish chair at right side. Dark background. Small empty envelope pasted to bottom of background reads: "cecilia Ober Pearsol/(Mrs. John H.)" Two paper stickers at top right read; " Mister Cochran/ Shand--gen 63 III/Tel. 610651"
Overall condition is fair to good. canvas apparently mounted on masonite. Extensive craquelure. Top third of background overpainted with dark, matte paint; poorly colormatched. Varnish has darkened. possible small patches at lower left.
Frame: fair condition. blotchy gold overpaint. some gesso losses.
Oil on canvas. woman seated facing slightly to right wiht head facing more forward. Left arm draped over chair back. Brown hair parted at center, wearing low crowned cap with elaborate bows and lace coering ears to neck. Gray green eyes. Black pleated dress with stiffening around waist, v-neckline with embroidery or lace collar. Wrapped in soft grey shawl with left hand exposed. Low backed chair is reddish. Background is various browns. Stencil on back: 'A. Armstrong/Artist/ Lancaster, Pa." "1845" painted below stencil. Frame: wooden with multiple stepped profile on molding. Gilded.
Extensive craquelure. Raised stretcher line. Sagging canvas top left and left side. Scattered dark spots across right 2/3. Frame: good overall with worn gilding and inpainting and soil. Minor chips at outside edges. Back uncovered. Mortise and tenon stretcher with keys; some missing or replaced. At left bottom miter joint, a strip of gesso crack filler is loose and pressing against canvas.
Object ID
2009.020.1
Credit
Given in Memory of Marsha Sener Schuyler by Janet Godfrey Alspach and Gretchen Godfrey
Oil painting of Mrs. Alexander Hood seated on red chair with draped red curtain behind. Her dark brown hair is parted in the center and she is wearing a white covering with ruffles along sides covering her ears. The two wide sashes/ties hang down to her waist. A dainty lace collar piece, unattached, is around her neck with opening in front. She wears a black dress with gathers from a front vertical seam that ends in a point below her waist. Long sleeve visible on her left arm has two sections of gathers on the upper arm. Her left hand rests on her lap.
Artist: Arthur Armstrong, American portrait painter (b.1798-d.1851).
Some crackling overall. Some paint rubbed off above wooden edges. Some fine vertical streaks on woman's dress, left elbow. A small spot on right side of painting above red chair. Canvas nailed to stretcher bars in tact.
Stamped: A. Armstrong, artist Lancaster, Pennsylvania
Written: 1845
Plaque: Mrs. Thomas Wentz (nee Catherine Evedon/Erdan) died March 18, 1817 Armstrong
July 24, 2017 Woman seated facing left with fact more forward, hands clasped on lap. Brown hair with center part; pronounced curl at left of head, hair gathered high on back of head. Brown eyes. Black, long-sleeved very high-waisted dress with low square neckline filled in with chemisette. Large single, frilled collar. Wide-band gold ring with stone on right index finger. Rede shawl wrapped around chair in back of sitter. Red upholstered chair with wooden arm. Background is brown. Stretcher is mortise & tenon with keys.
July 24, 2017. Extensive craquelure. Lines of abrasion along all sides, esp. at right, significant deep, crescent-shaped indentation adjacent to bust at left. Small grouping of paint losses at borrm, 4.5" from bottom right corner. Above ear is slightly curved line of raised paint damage. Small light spot of paint loss on chari back one inch away from frame. 3 vertical tray drips on canvas back. Also some moisture stains to left of stencil.
Frame: Poor to fair condition. Strong overall wear to gilding. Strong losses of gesso at protruding part of molding, esp. at right side. Patches of heavy wear: two areas on right side and one at left. Dark cracks across profile of molding. Back is uncovered.
Oil on canvas. sitter facing slightly left, face nearly full forward. WIhite upright collar, black stock/cravat, black hihg =, bold collar, black coat. Brass plaque on frame reads "Arthur Armstrong/ 1798-1851/painted by himself." Stencil on back: "A. Armstrong artist." Stretcher is mostise and tenon with keys (2 missing) Back uncovered; painting secured with mending plates.
Painting condition: Fair, previously lined, some minor paint loss, heavy crackliture, minor paint loss on nose and cheeks and background lower left
Painting repair: face painting, reline, remove varnish and revarnish, minor inpaint
Frame condition: Painted gold frame
Frame repair: none needed
(eta, 08/08/2017, VAP) waxy surface on back extensive craquelure stretcher lines about 1.5in from frame edges. Ear lobe paint color somewhat inconsistent. Alligatored micro-craquelure. Vertical paint loss along frame edge ar lower left. Small dark spots around upper right, one at left side of head.
On back: stencil "A. Armstrong Artist Lancaster, Pa. Painted 1846"
Pencil #3
July 17, 2017: Oil on canvas portrait has vertical seam. Seated man turned slight right with brown hair, not part. Brown eyes, prominent nose and chin. Black coat. black waistcoat, black neck wear, whit shirt with down-turned collar. Sitter's right arm draped over wooden chair back. Brown background.
July 24, 2017: Painting has extensive craqelure. On lapel just below center of painting has a 1/8 inch hole. A split 1/5" from his index finger and 2 " from bottom edge.
Frame: Back has moisture staining and soil. Front has strong grime. On right side near top is a marred spot. Gesso chips at both lower corners.
Half-length portrait of man facing slightly left. Forward swept dark hair, brown eyes with heavy brows and long face. Dark coat with high collar. Buff waiscoat, white shirt and cravat. Tall collar, folded over cravat. Brass buttons on coat. Very dark background.
Frame: Bold, wide elaborately decorated frame. Extensive applied floral composition. Protruding profile has sections of cross-hatch-like pattern. Mortise and tenon stretchers.
July 24, 2017 Poor. Two major holes previously patched, one above head and one low on coat. Two smaller holes, both near bottom left and center. Vertical crack at center right. Heavy abrasion and paint loss along left side. Slight 1" crack on top of head. Stretcher line visible. Dark with heavy grime. Canvas back has 2 large black fabric patches, top and bottom. Two small patches of paste-like substance.
Frame: Poor. Heavy soil. Very strong wear to gold paint. Gesso losses along outer edges. Back has inset strip of wood across miter joints.
Seated man facing slightly right with left arm draped over chair. Dark hair parted on sitter's left side, sideburns, thick eyebrows, brown eyes. White shirt with small collar, black neckwear. Black coat and waistcoat. Reddish chair/bench. Brown background. Cnavas back ahs stencil at center: "A. Armstrong/Artist/Lancaster, Pa." "Feb. 1846" painted underneath. Frame: wide mostly flat molding profile; gold paint. Stretcher is mortise and tenon with keys.
Painting repair: humidify, line, remove varnish, minor inpainting, revarnish
Frame condition: Poor, painted gold
Frame repair: repair compo, touch-up
(eta, 08/07/2017, VAP) Very Poor. Canvas detached from top and right side. Extensive craqulure. Visible stretcher line. Two .25in areas of paint loss to left of face. Torn trips detaching from canvs edges. heavy graime. Back has square patch at very edge of center right. Frame: fair. worn and soiled surface. Gesso losses along front edge. At top left miter joint tip of left frame part is missing.
