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.
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.
James Buchanan shown from waist up, sitting in red upholstered chair. Wearing black suit, white shirt and white bow tie, high collar. Eyes looking right and body turned to left. Right hands holds document-may be the constitution. See notes for letter rem
Provenance
William McMaster
To - Mrs. C.E. McMaster (wife of)
To - Edward Y. Buchanan (1/1892)
To - Mrs. Eric DelSpoelberch (great-granddaughter of E. Buchanan)
Painting is very dirty; requires cleaning 05/31/2023
Gesso & wood frame is damaged in several areas requires conservation.
Object ID
W.1945.001.001
Notes
The following original letter is in the accession folder. Letter from back of Painting: ' Phila. Jan. 1892 - This is the original portrait of James Buchanan painted by Wm. E. MacMaster of New York in July 1856, by personal sittings given him during his stay at Wheatland.
Oval picture set in rectangular frame. James Buchanan is shown wearing a blue jacket with white buttons, tan vest, and white shirt and tie. Hair is brown. 3/4 front and turned to his left. Frame has scroll-work inlay, black and red. Back of frame is 'Lou
Portrait of Ellen Mary Armstrong, by Arthur Armstrong. Seated girl with dog in interior with tall window at back. Young girl with short brown hair parted in center and curls in front. Dark brown eyes. Seated with hands in front and leges extended to right. White off the shoulder chemise with bows and lace at shoulders. Holding small basket of variety of pink flowers. High top footwear with blue foot and white cuff. Right shoe removed and lying on floor. Flowers on floor beside shoe. Seated on large round blue cushion. Folds of peach blanket under left leg and lying on floor at front right. Small spaniel type dog sitting upright on haunches, holding a daisy in mouth. Overal seated on block patterened bedspread or floorcloth. Three at left? Background is mottled brown. Window at right has night scene of street. including 2 prominent church steeples (possibly East Orange looking east toward First Reformed and Presbyterian Church).
painting dimensions are 30.25in High and 25in Wide.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-08-01
Condition Notes
Extensive craquelure. Two rectangular canvs pathces on reverse -- one at hair and above head, second patch below pink peopny on dress (reparied tear?) Frame painted gold excpet for three sections of face molding. Onverall wear with streaking and mottling. Inner gilded edge has multiple hairline cracks across its length; now quite darkened. Back uncovered; painting secured with eye screws. Brass plaque at bottom of frame reads "Ellen Mary Armstrong/1843-1846/Armstrong"
Frame: expected moderate wear to gilding with abrasions and smalll gesso chips. Short dark cracks on inner edges on all four sides.
Name written in cursive in ink on back of canvas is smeared: "(first two names illegible) Lipp." Appears to be Henry Gottlieb Lipp (1825-1920). He would have been
On sticker: for Lanc. Hist Society Lola D. Violet Lipp (or probably daughter Ida V. Lipp, b. 1856 d. 1930)
Stenciled on back canvas: "A. Armstrong / Artist" and written in ink below is "1850."
Oil on canvas portrait of man facing slight right with face toward front. dark ear length heair, heavy eyebrows, sluish grey eyes. Black coat and waistcoat, black neckwear with bowtie ans hite shirt with upturned collar. Gold watch chain attached to waistcoat butto hole. hands o lap, left hand holds book. Seated in wooden chair with red upholstery. Blue drapery upper left corner. Sunrise or sunset over a river at right side. No frame.
Provenance
Owned by Lola D. Violet Lipp (or probably daughter Ida V. Lipp, b. 1856 d. 1930)
(eta, 08/08/2017, VAP) Dark with heavy grime, puncture with paint loss as well as two heavy dents with paint loss at upper left wear and paint loss concentrated along side edges. Loose canvas. No frame.
Object ID
1930.007.1
Notes
Henry G. Lipp (10 Jan 1825 - 20 Aug 1920) was born in Wurttemburg, Germany and came to America at age 13. He died in Lancaster. He was a tinsmith in Lancaster City for 55 yrs.
He was one of the original stockholders in the Hamilton Watch Company and covered half the roof over the first factory. He was married to Margaret E. Dietrich. His obit. (in file) notes two daughters survived him: Ida V. Lipp, at home, and Mrs. J.D. Shields (Alice) of Harrisburg.
oil on canvas portrait of two standing girls. Taller girl faces slightly right; shorter girl's body faces sister, embracing her waist, while face is turned sharply to nearly fully front. Tall ggirl has light brown hair with center part, tied with blue bows at back. Gray eyes. Multiple strand coral beaded necklace and gold hoop earrings. Blue wide necked dress with elbow length sleeves and buttons on sleeve cuff ans well as down front of dress. Skirt is pleated with 3 flounces. Lace trim at neckline and sleeve edge. lace blooms show below blue skirt. Red shoes with lback toe. younger girl has brown hair with center part. Multiple strand coral beadednecklace. Same ensemble only pink. Bows at shoulder. Older girl has flowers in right hand and corner of gold fringed shawl that drape down to bottom right. Basket of flowers at lower left. Large trees behind and to right of girls. Pastoral scene in distance through an open gate at background. Back has paper sticker at upper left "ART 64/120" Canvas stamped "A.Armstrong/Artist/Lancaster, Pa." "1849" painted below.
Painting: Oil on linen, Fair/Good, canvas sagging, cracking throughout, some paint loss in faces, abrasions.
Painting conservation needs: Surface clean.
Frame: None.
Frame conservation needs: None.
(eta, 08/08/2017,VAP) sagging cavas; semi-gloss, sheen on overall surface. Four areas of paint loss along older sister's nose on forehead and shoulder of younger girl and fourth loss at center right, approx. 3in from edge. Canvas edges worn with paint loss. Electrical tape covers all outside edges of stretchers. No frame.
Sir Walter Raleigh parting from his wife, imprisoned in the Tower of London
Oil on canvas historical painting depicts Raleigh standing with distraugt woman. Guard stands at rear left near open stiarway. Desk covered with books , a globe, etc. Hand cuffs on floor. Brass plaque reads: " Sir Walter Raleigh/Imprisoned in the/ Tower of London/Armstrong." Back of canvas inscribed at bottom in cursive"Arthru Armstrong Artist/Lancaster, Pa./1849/SIr Walter Rolley parting from his wife"
3/4 profile bust portrait of "James Sproul of Octoraro . 1781 -1847 ." Subject's face towards viewer. See notes for additional information regarding date of gift and donor.
According to the "Papers Read Before the Lancaster County Historical Society, February 1, 1907, Minutes of the February meeting:
The following donations to the Society were announced by the Librarian: A large frame photograph of James Sproul, once a prominent citizen and iron master on the Octoraro Creek, below Christiana, donated by his grandson, Hon. W. C. Sproul, of Chester Pa.
The presentation of the Sproul portrait was made by Dr. J. W. Houston, who accompanied it by an address of considerable length, in which the career of Dr. Sproul was sketched, showing him to have been a man of mark in the earlier period of the county's history.
William Cameron Sproul (September 16, 1870 – March 21, 1928) was the 27th Governor of Pennsylvania from 1919 to 1923. He also served as a state senator from 1896 until his election as governor in 1919.
Painting of girl with lamb. Gilt frame with ogee molding on outer and inner edge. Corners have applied molding. Picture is multi-colored and shows a young girl with golden -brown hair in curls, black head band, peach and blue flowers also in hair, blue eyes. Subject is Saint Agnes, the patron saint of children and the Blessed Virgin Mary Sodality.
Charlottesville Seminary, Albany, NY [According to Wikipedia, Charlotteville Seminary (1850-1875) was in Charlotteville, Schoharie County, New York.]
Framed oil painting on canvas. 'Two Men Fishing From Rowboat.' Men in rowboat in foreground, mountains and trees in the background. Plain, gold-colored frame.
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
Portrait of three sons of Jacob Eichholtz, Henry Clay Eichholtz, Lavallyn Barry Eichholtz, and Robert Lindsay Eichholtz.
Jacob Eichholtz and his second wife, Catherine Trissler Eichholtz, named their three youngest children after prominent Kentucky senator and former secretary of state Henry Clay; Baltimore banker Lavallyn Barry; and beloved son-in-law and Philadelphia bookseller Robert Lindsay.
The father of 13 children, Eichholtz portrayed his three youngest with an immediacy and grace that rivals his finest work. Captured just four years prior to the artist's death, these angelic faces are rendered through the eyes of a father's's love and affection. - Thomas Ryan, President and CEO of LancasterHistory.org
Painting on laid paper, watercolor and gouache. Native American/American Indian with mostly hairless head, wearing large plume headdress, feather neck and armbands, bare feet. Additional bands on forarms, thighs and calves. Standing in front of 3 large trees and tufts of grass in surroundigns. In Frame, paper backed with inscription, "Drawn by John Leman / My Great Great Uncle / Gertrude Frantz-Stauffer / 1926." Getrude Frantz-Stauffer was the mother of Sarah Ann Stauffer.
Painting on laid paper, watercolor and gouache. Large black and white bird with yellow crest. Standing in front of a stream and in front of palm trees. In frame, paper backed with inscription, "Drawn by Eliza Ann Leman / My Great Grandmother / Gertrude Frantz-Stauffer / 1926" Gertrude Frantz-Stauffer was Sarah Ann Stauffer's mother.
Three eighths inch wide frame includes a metal loop at top.
Painting, St. Jerome, European. Oil on canvas on board. Portrait is of bearded, bald, older man with upturned head and rapturous expression, eyes turned heavenward.
Glossy varnish over oil; canvas adhered to oak panel. Mounted in gold-painted, early, molded pine frame, likely older than painting. Wood liner, painted copper, allows painting to fit frame.
Contrived arrangement of strips on reverse mounts and secures board. Split oak panel has two thin walnut strips epoxied across back for support.
Old paper sticker printed "11" pasted to upper left corner of back. Upper right corner has old newsclipping pasted and covered with plastic strip. Article titled "Mifflin Paintings Sold at Sale" notes estate sale of Grace Minich estate in Columbis. Handwritten at top is "8 JULY 1967."
Provenance
Owned by Mifflin and hung in his home. Brought back from Europe by J. H. Mifflin. Apparently inherited by Grace Minich and sold among approx. 35 turn-of-the-century paintings, July 8, 1967."
Gold painted molded pine frame with painted wood liner.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Canvas
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
14.75
Width (in)
12.5
Dimension Details
Frame size is H: 23 inches x W: 19 inches.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-01-27
Condition Notes
Oil on cavas has bubbles and other raised points; some areas of abrasion. Panel split top to bottom with cupping. Wood strips epoxied to back for support. Board has white in pores. Recent wood strips contrived to hold board.
Gold paint on frame is flaking with multiple losses. Upper corners and lower rail all have gesso losses.
Object ID
2015.017.2
Notes
St. Jerome was one of the scholars of the early church. Born around 347, he later translated much of the Bible into Latin, called the Vulgate.
Oil painting of person walking on road toward river where 3 sailboats are visible. Red and yellow leafed trees with hill on opposite side of river visible in background. Painting on piece of highly acidic wood. On reverse "EICHOLT PAINTING FROM PONTZ ESTATE." Frame is three eighths inches with gilded top/front surface and one eighth inch curved bevel.
