Charcoal portrait on poster board ('Nat Mat Cardboards').. Drawn from neck up, "Thaddeus Stevens" is looking to the viewer's right. Artist J.A. Jolly has printed his name beneath Stevens' left shoulder. Cut-out printed black uppercase letters are attached beneath the drawing: "THADDEUS STEVENS." The surface appears to have been sprayed with a matte finish.
On reverse, written on taped-on white piece of paper: "Drawn by/ James Arthur Jolly/ April 1967/ 17 Mary St./ Millersville, Pa./Asst. Prof., M.S.C./ Memb. Lanc. Co. Hist. Soc."
Copy of a portrait of Thaddeus Stevens on stiff paper. The name, "THADDEUS STEVENS," is below the portrait of Stevens' head and shoulders in an oval bordered with a strand of leaves. Stevens face and shirt are white against a darker background. Stevens' signature appears beneath the portrait in the lower right margin.
Directly beneath to portrait in tiny font on the left: "AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH FROM LIFE BY C. W. EBERMAN."
In the center: "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867. By J. E. Barr, in the clerk's office of the district court of the U.S. for the eastern district of Pennsylvania./ Published by J.E.Barr, Lancaster, Penna."
Within that the framed portrait and signature measure 16.5" wide x 21.25 high.
Condition
Fair to Good
Condition Date
2023-07-24
Condition Notes
Brown acidification overall. Remnants of pieces of masking tape, 4 pieces on the back edges. On front, 2 remain, hard glue from one remains and the fourth was torn off. There is a 3-inch tear on bottom left edge. Brown lines indicate edges of mat when portrait was framed.
On back, brown border all around. The 15" x 20.5" area that is reverse of portrait is lighter in color since it had been taped/glued. The upper portion of the center piece shows many brown dots including some dark heavy blot-like stains, remnants of liquid? One cluster of these has soaked through to the front of the piece. There are indentations on all four sides from nails/tacks.
Portrait of Thaddeus Stevens in gold-painted oval frame, an 1867 mezzotint of an 1862 photograph. Stevens' left shoulder is right front and he faces left. He wears a suit jacket, vest, white shirt with buttons and thin knotted necktie around the stand-up collar.
Typed on paper on back of piece: "Thaddeus Stevens./ The great commoner and promoter of the public school system/ practised (sic) law in Lancaster, Pennsylvania/ Uncle William T. Fulton, Esq., of Oxford, Chester Co. Pennsylvania,/ studied law under Thaddeus Stevens./ My father, Hugh R. Fulton, Esq., was a great admirer of Stevens/ and delivered lectures on his philosophy./ This picture, in its oval frame, hung in father's office,/ above his desk, throughout his fifty eight years practising (sic) law/ in Lancaster, Pennsylvania."
Below, written cursively in ink: "This should go to the/ Lancaster County/ Historical Society-/ E. J. Fulton"
Oval frame is 15.5' wide x 18.25' long with depth (about 1.5 inches)
On back are two eyebolts with wire loops attached for hanging.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-09-22
Condition Notes
Image is under glass. Small nick in gold paint on frame revealing plaster on lower outside of frame, center right. A chip off shiny gold paint on upper right.
Tiny cracks on both sides, inside of frame touching glass, middle of portrait.
Framed print of Thaddeus Stevens. Published by J.E. Barr, Lancaster, PA. Engraved by John Sartain, Phila. After a photograph from life by C. W. Eberman. Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867 by J.E. Barr in the clerk's office of the U.S. for the Eastern
Engraving of Thaddeus Stevens, Artist Proof by John Sartain
Description
Print of Thaddeus Stevens; artist proof signed by John Sartain and Thaddeus Stevens; matted, some loss. Fair condition.
Additional information related to the print can be found in LancasterHistory library book 923.2 S846po. This book indicates that the print was taken from an 1862 photograph. The book also includes information advertising the print as well as testimonials from local newspapers and Stevens himself confirming the likeness. The letter (or a copy of it) from Stevens that is transcribed at the beginning of the book is folded into the back pages. A subscribers' list at the back of the booklet shows the 1867 price for the print: an artist's copy is $15. The booklet identifies the print as a steel engraving.
Provenance
John Sartain was an important nineteenth-century printmaker, who moved from England to the United States and is credited with pioneering mezzotint engraving in the United States.
William Albright, or Albrecht, was born May 23, 1793 in Lancaster, PA. During his lifetime he worked as a printer, ornamental painter, lithographic artist, limner, dancing-master and teacher of drawing.
Between 1820 and 1836, Albright published a German-language newpaper in Lancaster, the 'Staatsbothe,' as well as the 'New and Improved North Americna Almanac.' Albright moved to Phila. in 1837 where he spent his remaining years teaching art.
On Christmas Day in 1821 William Albirhgt married Mary Weaver. The had one daughter, Anna M. Albright (1822-1855). The birth and death dates of Mary Weaver Albright are unknown.
Portrait of James Buchanan Henry in oval frame. Elaborate oval frame with light colored dry brushing. Henry faces the viewer; has long mustache, side parted light brown hair, blue eyes. Family history indicates that this was a self portrait by Henry, whose art career was discouraged by his uncle James Buchanan (the 15th US President).
Mrs. John G. Brenner (according to family tradition)
Description
Framed oil on canvas on panel portrait. Half-length seated figure is a woman, said to be Mrs. John Gundaker Brenner according to great aunt of donor. Facing left, head slightly to front. Blue eyes. Dotted net cap w/ ruffles around face & small bow at left ear. Wearing a necklace. Long-sleeved dark dress w/ surplice (cross-over) white collar extends below waist in front. Left hand holds book/Bible on lap. Red chair back visible to right. Plain background. Has 5"-wide gilt frame.
Provenance
Descent through family: To Ella Louisa Brenner Brenneman, granddaughter of subjects; to her niece Mrs. Laura C. Burks; bought at auction by Mrs. Henry C. Snowden (Elizabeth Brenner Snowden), a cousin of Mrs. Brenneman; to Mrs. Richard R. Murray (Marjorie Snowden), her daughter; to donor and gr. granddaughter of Mrs. Snowden and great-niece of Mrs. Murray.
