Unframed watercolor portrait on paperboard of Louisa Anderson Henry (1848-1886), 2nd wife of Buck Henry. Within a shaded oval, subject is painted from waist up, facing a quarter turn to viewer's left. Long brown hair is contained within a large net tied at top with a bow. Hair net appears to be dark brown gouache. Checked dress has gauzy white collar pinned at front with a brooch.
Inscription: Signed in pencil at left edge near bottom corner with "Brady / N.Y."
Provenance
Passed to Pamela Henry (b. 1923) daughter of Buck's youngest son, Frank Anderson Henry; then to grand-niece Louisa Dent, donor.
Paperboard has age-darkened buff paper covering the front, now brittle and broken/cracked into multiple pieces. Appears to have been repaired with glue. Additional residue from adhesive at each corner, with traces of white paper attached (painting apparently had a cut-out overlay framing oval, since detached). Same adhesive residue w/ white paper at top of reverse.
Object ID
2015.028.2
Notes
Thought to have been painted by artist James Buchanan Henry who was her husband. (Patrick Clark)
Unframed watercolor portrait on paperboard of Louisa Anderson Henry (1848-1886), 2nd wife of Buck Henry. This is a copy of the original, 2015.028.2, by an unknown artist.
Subject is painted from waist up, facing a quarter turn to viewer's left. Long brown hair is contained within a large net tied at top with a bow. Checked dress has gauzy white collar pinned at front with a brooch. Blue-tinted background. Done apparently in watercolor and possibly colored pencil. Painting is rendered on an oval paper pasted onto a paper-covered paperboard. Oval painting is circumscribed by a penciled oval.
Inscription: In right bottom corner is written in pencil: "Copy by." over an illegible signature
Provenance
Descent within Henry family to home of Reginald Buchanan Henry (Buck's second to youngest son) to his grand daughter Louisa Dent (donor).
Painting: Oil on canvas, Fair/Good, crackling throughout, surface dirt, some mildew spotting, scuffing right center over boat, some in painting apparent under black light.
Painting conservation needs: Surface clean, remove old varnish, revarnish.
Frame: 2" painted wood and gold, Fair.
Frame conservation needs: Surface clean and minor touchup.
Object ID
1968.010.001
Notes
Frame measurements: Height 40.5
Width 54
Depth 2
Object should have new 3-digit # 001 added to existing # on the object. As of 01/31/22 the object ID number on the frame is 1968.010.
Painting: Oil on linen, 5 tears in canvas middle mid center, repaired with duct tape, Poor/Fair, crackling throughout, paint loss throughout with previous inpainting (5%).
Painting of Kepler Lodge, by Mary Susan Herr Weirsham,
Written in pen on back: "At my death, this is to go to my cousin, Susan Raub. (Ditty's daughter) Signed June 4, 1993 by Elizabeth Caruthers.
Typewritten and attached to back:
Artist: Mary Susan Herr Weirsham painted this picture in the 1950's & made her living selling her paintings. The artist who was six feet tall and hated it, crouched to seem less tall & gave this painting to her cousin Betty (Elizabeth Gerhardt Gipe Caruthers) as both loved their summer Girl's camp, Kepler Lodge, located 4 mi from Pequea, Pa. on Rt. 324 which was built in the 1700's (period of Hans Herr House) as the Master's mansion of an iron foundry.
Mary Sue paints herself on the left and Betty, with red hair, on the right. The girls, whose mothers were first cousins, joyously attended this camp from about age 9-16. Mary Sue, who went to Europe as a child as her parents did well, had great stories to tell Betty like pouring water on passengers as they went down the aisle of a train.
One year at camp, Betty came running down the hill, leaping over the clasped outstretched arms of two standing friends who were at the pool's edge. This time Betty hit the sloped side of the cement pool & broke her nose. While a hospital in Lancaster put one stitch in the nose, she hope her mother wouldn't find out.
Another later year, working as a "kitchen police" ( which "consisted of washing dishes & doing all the thing you do in the kitchen for 60-80 girls") on late eveing (sic) when "we weren't too tired, we went "skinny dipping" in the same infamous pool. Someone noticed the nearby farmer and all his sons sitting on their porch watching us in the bright moonlight." We all fled and were thoroughly embarrassed. The put a crimp in our skinny dipping."
Betty Gipe Caruthers was born 11/17/(19)14. Betty was a couple of years older than Mary Sue, although Mary Sue was 'bigger."--These notes taken down by a friend in June 1993. Although the families of the two girls were at odds, the two girls were fast friends.
Painting of on paper of elegant unidentified woman in oval gold frame with convex glass; has hanging ring. Woman gazes toward viewer's right, dressed in black Victorian formal clothing with fancy high collar and elaborate coiffure with bow. Mottled background of various hues.
Frame housed in an oblong leather-covered case with divided lid opening like twin hinged doors. Oval frame fits into central cavity of main leather frame, all covered with dark red velvet. Frame back has recessed "leg" that pulls out to allow frame to stand..
Painting signed with red lettering: "William S." at lower right edge.
Oval case is H: 5.25" (incl. hanging ring) W: 3.50"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2016-06-10
Condition Notes
Portrait has good color and detail. Gold frame is good; glass has minute pitting and scattered abrasions. Leather-covered case interior is good with worn velvet on large center panel, including hook covering. Leather on exterior is fair-to-poor condition due to significant losses, tears ans abrasions. Structurally sound.
Watercolor of country mill. Probably painted by Julius Augustus Beck, brother of first wife of William Alexander Hammer, Martha Ann Beck. (Original entry by unknown person)
WRZ entry: Colorful W/C mounted onto nearly 1/8" thick paperboard (H: 5.75" W: 7.75") with gold, pebbled surface on back, and "Hammer" scrawled in pencil script. Front side, in margin above mounted watercolor is "4160 Hammer" also in pencil script.
Mounted in black modern frame with window mat for exhibit 2013-2016. (Removed from Med. Flat Box 35, "Fine Arts: Paintings", Cabinet 2).
Painting of young, uniformed Civil War "soldier", posing in front of a cannon & American flag and leaning on a fluted pedestal with urn. Painting done a paper 5 3/8" x 6 1/2" piece of paper paste-mounted onto a larger piece of paperboard within a double-line border. Below image is a hand-painted cartouche with "Regimental Bugler, A.F. Shenck, / 9th Penna. Vet. Calvary, / Aged 14 years". Outside of border at bottom left is painted "PRESENTED TO A.F. SHENCK ESQ., / BY REDMOND CONYNGHAM.
Note: Redmond Conyngham (1863-1929) was a Lancaster attorney as was Shenck (8-16-1846 to 4-1-1921). This presentation piece appears to have been a gift and tribute to Shenck, honoring his Civil War service, suggesting a friendship between the two colleagues.
Provenance
Note on card accompanying drawing/painting is: "D.A.R. gift / 1880s". This date seems doubtful since it suggests Shenck giving this presentation piece away while still a young man in his 30's or early 40's.
