The Japanese Kimono (has been listed as "Japanese Print")
Description
Large oil on canvas painting of a seated woman wearing a Japanese kimono, according to the title. The subject is Helen Thurlow, a Lancaster/Greenwich Village-based Pa. Academy of Fine Arts-trained artist & illustrator.
On back: Signed at upper right corner; 2 provenance show labels/stickers from Carnegie Institute, Pittsburgh
Survey done by Tom Ryan and Mike Heberlein states:
Painting: Signed upper right A. Traquair Lang, Auction #124 at lower right. Good condition (Note: Found on 06-28-17, a large 2" long puncture tear to right of subject's face.) Surface dirt, discolored varnish, minor cracking of paint (center right, center area of kimono).
Frame: Fair, minor scuffing throughout, painted gold.
Frame conservation needs: Minor touchup throughout.
Object ID
1951.013
Notes
All info via correspondence w/ writer/researcher Eve Kahn
This painting was exhibited in various shows, including the 1915 Panama-Pacific expo in California. It is pictured in a centennial book on p. 24 installed on gallery #65 wall and flanked by two more of her ptgs. See:
See Objects Photos for above image (in 1915 expo).
Subject Helen A. Thurlow (1889- ?) was the daughter of Thomas and Annie Thurlow of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, Philadelphia, from 1904-1912, where Thomas Anshutz was head instructor. He painted her portrait, seated sideways, and the portrait is thought to be during Ms. Thurlow's student years. See:
Portrait of Helen Thurlow, pastel on canvas, c. 1910 by Thos. Anschutz
(Portrait sold by Hammer Galleries, NY, NY.)
Annie T. Lang was painted by her mentor William Merritt Chase in 1911. This O/C ptg. is owned by the PMA & has accession # 1928-63-4. The label reads:
"William Merritt Chase was an early pioneer of Impressionist aesthetics in the United States and enjoyed immense popularity during the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. A celebrated teacher, Chase likely first met his protégée Annie Lang (1885-1918) in 1901 when she enrolled in one of his annual summer schools on Long Island. Painted in the summer of 1911 outside Florence, Italy, while Chase was on one of his many extended sojourns in Europe, this portrait of Lang suggests the close, perhaps intimate, relationship between the two artists. The painting incorporates the rich fabrics, ornate décor, and elegant attire that characterize Chase's interior scenes".
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 seated man, body facing right, head nearly front. Dark hair, ear length, no part. Brown eyes, prominent nose and chin. Black coat and waistcoat, white shirt with down turned collar. Black neckwear. Both and hold red book seated in red upholstered armchair. Formal garden and sky visible at left behind red curtain with gold fringe and tassel. Portrait of woman with palette and brushes below right. Probable stringed instrument at lower left. Brass plaque reads: "James thomas Armstrong/1828-1848/Armstrong." Frame is 4 in wide molded profile with gilding.
Frame: 4" gold Sully-type, surface dirt and mildew stains throughout, minor losses throughout.
Frame conservation needs: Surface clean, touchup and regild.
(eta, VAP 08/04/2017) Fiar. Canvas detaching from stretcher at right side, especially at bottom corner where canvas is buckled an torn from stretcher. Irregular puncture tear is 2in wide and 3.5in high at upper right of head. Divets at upper right side to left of very center and at edge of coat near shirt, streaks of paint lass at left, top and right, white spot lower left. Overall dark and hazy. Mold spots at lower left. At upper back are moisture stains. Cellophane tape repair at tear. Frame: fair. gilding is darkened with alligatoring and mold spots. Gesso losses and strong chipping at outer edges. Left outer side has moisture stains with mold and stains across bottom.
Amanda Haldeman Armstrong, this is a companion portrait to Elizabeth Groff Armstrong. (Identifications based on names on brass plaques, which were probably added for a 1989 exhibition. At least a few of the identifications are unclear/questionable/contradictory. Aug 1 2017, VAP)
Oil on canvas portrait of seated woman facing slightly left. dark hair, center part, curled at sides and gathered at back of crown. Brown eyes. Pendant earrings have stone. Light colored wide necked dress with pleats over the soulders and center front. Pink rose at center of collar. Hands clasped on lap. Ring and bracelet with stone on left arm. Tan or yellow fringed shawl end held across lap and draping over forearm to bottom right. Another shawl held across lap and draping over right arm. Upholstered reddish chair seen at right. Large reddish drapery with fringe and tassel covers background and is pulled back to reveal window at left wiht outdoor scene. Brass plaque reads "Amanda H. Armstrong/1830-1913/Armstrong." Frame is 4in wide with molded profile and gilding.
Painting: Poor, 3 previous silk patches on back, surface grime, 15" tear lower center, 13" tear left center, 5" tear right center, some minor paint loss throughout.
Frame: Poor/Fair, 4" Sully-type gold frame with plaque on bottom, mildew damage and minor losses throughout.
Frame conservation needs: Surface clean, spot patch and gild.
(eta, VAP, 08/02/2017) Poor. Sagging loose canvas with dark grime overall. Some craquelure in lower half of cnavas. Large 4in irregular hole with extended tears at arm and bracelet. 15in long verrtical tear with 3.5in offshoot tear at left in window area. Irregular tears 3.5in by 1.5in at conter right. Adjacent area of white paint is 8in by 4in. Smaller L-shaped tear at bottom right is approx 1.5in x 1.25in. Back has 3 silk patches. Frame: fair to good. very dark stain under plaque at edge. Multiple gesso chips at all edges. Gilding somewhat darkened overall with scattered dark blotches.
Stormy scene; water in foreground, land to center, back and left. Norman Castle is on top of cliffs. Two smaller buildings at shore level below castle. Wrecked ship against cliffs. Four smaller figures on cliff. Sea is rough with high waves.
'Chepstow (Beaufort Arms; George), a town with 2,953 inhabitants, on the west bank of the Wye, is a station on the G.W.R. and a good centre for excursions.
Inscription Type
Paper Tag
Frame
H: 49.50 inches x W: 63.25 inches. Rococo Revival gilt wood and gesso
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint/Canvas/Wood
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
49.5
Width (in)
63.25
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2003-10-21
Condition Notes
Paint is cracking in areas
Object ID
W.1950.003.001
Notes
Text Found on Reverse of Painting- 'Chepstow (Beaufort Arms; George), a town with 2,953 inhabitants, on the west bank of the Wye, is a station on the G.W.R. and a good centre for excursions.
O/C self-portrait of artist. Facing right front head turned toward viewer. Half length sitter wearing black suit with white shirt, black tie and gold chain. Dark hair parted on sitter's right with long sideburns seated in reddish chair, elbow resting on arm. Craquelure near sitter's right hand. Loss and repairs.
"A. Armstrong/Artist/Lancaster, Pa." is stencilled on back of canvas.
Provenance
Ptgs. owned by Hovey Gleason as of 1975. Owned by Dr. Irwin Richman in 1980s at the time he wrote Armstrong article for Magazine Antiques. Ended up at Conestoga Auction of Hess Auction Group a year or two ago where they were purchased by P. Sullivan. Seller states he cannot find receipt & ptgs.; they were an anonymous consignment to auction.
Seller states pair of ptgs. were restored in April 2017 by Jeff Rouse of Pittsburgh.To receive a treatment report would have cost extra, so it was declined, hence we have no record. Rouse now has a significant illness and is has closed his business.
Overal good condition. Canvas over board. Damage to right of index finger. Residue over second joints of 3 fingers. Damage forward of sitter's right elbow. Poor inpainting and above forearm. Poor color match on rear armrest of chair. Repaired tear over right eye. Brown kraft paper on back. gold paint covers gilding. Top at left is scraped, large .25in loss on right side. Bottom right has gesso loss.
Object ID
2017.008.1
Related Item Notes
Half of a pair. 2017.008.2 is protrait of artist's wife.
O/C portrait of artist's wife, Harriet Wentz Armstrong. Sitter facing slight left, face forward, brown to black hair parted at middle. Brown eyes, long gold earrings, long gold lariat necklace with gold piece at neck, curls on lap. White sheer lace neckercheif. Pinned at neck with black and gold brooch. Black pleated long-sleeved dress with drop shoulders and heavily boned bodice. White, sheer handkercheif held at lap. Sitting on red upholstered armchair. Background has various browns.
"A. Armstrong/ Artist [?] Lancaster, Pa." is stencilled on middle of back of canvas.
Provenance
Ptgs. owned by Hovey Gleason as of 1975. Owned by Dr. Irwin Richman in 1980s at the time he wrote Armstrong article for Magazine Antiques. Purchased by P. Sullivan from Conestoga Auction of Hess Auction Group a year or two ago. Seller states he cannot find receipt & ptgs. were an anonymous consignment to auction.
Seller states pair of ptgs. were restored in April 2017 by Jeff Rouse of Pittsburgh. To receive a treatment report would have cost extra, so it was declined, hence we have no record. Rouse now has a significant illness and is has closed his business.
Canvas over board. Condition is very good. Left edge, shoulder height and below has 5 dark discolorations, upper left corner has 2.5in color stripe, upper right corner background has light paint loss on raised granulations. Slight paint loss across nose to left eye. Dark spot of infill at right, under ear, on neckerchief. Dark varnish drip on cheek to left of nose. Frame: gold paint over gilding.
