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.
Waist-up portrait of James Buchanan, Jr. with brown hair combed back and brushed forward at ear. Wearing dark brown coat, white vest with gold buttons, olive green/aqua tie with gold stick pin with ruby head. The portrait is mounted in a Regency caveto moulded gilt gesso frame with beaded border with projecting corners ornately adorned scrolling foliage patterns with fleur-de-lis patterns. James Buchanan, Jr. was the Private Secretary to the President of the United States.
Provenance
Edward Y. Buchanan
to Maria Buchanan Cassatt
to her granddaughter, Katherine S. de Spoelberch (the donor, Mrs. Eric) grand-niece of James Buchanan, Jr.
A Regency caveto moulded gilt gesso frame with beaded border with projecting corners ornately adorned scrolling foliage patterns with fleur-de-lis patterns.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Paint/Canvas/Wood
Height (in)
36.875
Width (in)
32
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2003-10-20
Object ID
W.1945.002.001
Notes
James Buchanan, Jr. was the first born child to Reverend Edward Young Buchanan and Ann Eliza Foster Buchanan. He served as the Private Secretary to President James Buchanan, his uncle, after his cousin, James Buchanan Henry resigned the position in 1859.
Portrait of the Reverend Dr. John Williamson Nevin mounted in an oval walnut ca. 1850 American Scoop Sully frame. The print of the portrait is signed by the artist, Julius Augustus Beck, the son of schoolmaster, John Beck of Lititz, PA. The photographer was either John D. Lemer or his brother, LeRue with whom John shared a studio as early as 1869, at 206 Market St., Harrisburg, PA; however, John also owned a studio at 1215 N. Third from 1887 to 1895..
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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".
