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.
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"
Mary Brackbill Eshleman (1769-1848) wife of Jacob Eshelman. She was the daughter of Benedict Brechbühl II and Anna Marie Kendig and upon marriage Mary lived at 38 S Belmont Road, Paradise PA. Her paternal grandparents were Ulrich Brechbühl (1703-1739), a well loved minister of Strasburg Mennonite Church and wife, Feronica (Herr) Brechbühl (1700-1780), a granddaughter of Hans Herr.
Provenance
Donated by Benjamin Franklin Eshelman born 1909 New Orleans--great-great grandson of Hans Herr.
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.
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.
On back A. H. Hood aged 36 y. painted by A. Armstrong 1842
On tag: repeats info.
On back of canvas: JISW
Seated man faces slightly right. Dark hair with widow's peak. Brey blue eyes. Square face. Black coat, black waistcoat, black bowtie, on wide peice of neckware, white shirt. Right hand on lap. Reddish chair at left. Background has large red curtain with sky visible through opening at right.
Self-portrait by George Washington Ralston (1819-1843).
Ralston was a self-taught painter from Strasburg, Lancaster County. Married June 1, 1841 to Mary Mathiot (1824-1904). Great, great, great grandfather of donor.
