Oil painting on canvas landscape painting, depicting a dense forest in the foreground with a calm lake behind and cloudy sky. Frames in a heavy, highly ornate Rococo revival gilt frame. Signature 'H D Martin' in red paint.
Dimensions given are for painting not including frame.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2022-01-31
Condition Notes
Painting needs cleaning; surface is very dirty and there is crazing of paint.
Object ID
W.1989.109.001
Notes
Homer Dodge Martin was born in Albany, NY in 1836. A pupil, for a short time, of William Hart, his earlier work, similar to this painting, was closely aligned with the Hudson River School. During the 1860s he spent the summers in the Adirondacks, Catskills and White Mountains, and painted landscapes from his sketches.
Water color portrait of a young man on wove paper. The subject depicted in full-length profile, facing to the viewer's left, with right foot in front of left. He has short black hair and is wearing a dark blue coat, white shirt with high collar, blue and white checked vest, dark gray pants and black boots. He is holding a top hat upside-down in his right hand.
The background is dominated by a blue sky with a few clouds, an orange or light brown horizon, blue-green hills and bushes (probably faded green) and brown ground.
According to the sellers, the subject is one of the Reitz (or Ritz) brothers. Catherine Reitz was the great-great grandmother of the seller, Guiles Erisman Costolo. For more info on the provenance see the file.
Artist Jacob Maentel (1763-1863) was an important itinerant portrait painter in watercolor who worked extensively in northwest Lancaster County during the first quarter of the 19th century.
Some horizontal buckling on left side, vertical buckling along top edge, but otherwise in good condition.
Conservation treatment and matting done in Feb. 1989 by CCAHA in Phila. Mat must have later been removed, so this piece was matted and framed by conservator Brian Howard in 1996.
Framed theorem of stencil-painted fruit on light brown cotton velvet. Painting is a still life of variously colored fruits: melons, peaches, apricots, a half-eaten pear, grapes with leaves, plums and a pomegranate. Composed on a blue-colored base or table. An insect is depicted near bottom center below grapes.
There is no border signature or date. Frame is a flat-profiles with walnut veneer facing.
Provenance
Found in the Slaymaker attic among other framed objects, in very dirty conditions. Unknown maker, but possibly done at a Moravian school such as the one at Lititz. See Slaymakers at Linden Hall on page 147 of Slaymaker history.
Taken to Dottie McCoach for conservation June 1, 1998. Returned Sept. 17, 1998. See report in this file. After treatment the piece is still dark, stained and moisture damaged along the bottom.
A: Watercolor on wove paper of J. Crump Tannery, Marietta, Pa, depicting a panoramic view of the Klumpp Tannery and residence, viewed from Front St. The white 2-story frame house with one-story addition is in the foreground on the left with a man and woman by the front door. The tannery complex with smokestack is on the right, set further back from the street with the tanning operation underway. A man in a small horse-drawn carriage is in the street in the front and a boy chasing 2 chickens is in the yard between the house and tannery. A brick church is in the background center.
John C. Klumpp's Tannery was built by P. Moyer on Locust Street between 2nd St. (now E. Market) and Prospect Alley in 1815. Klumpp acquired the tannery in 1874 and operated it until his death in 1901. The tannery occupied lots 69-70-71-72, Strawberry Alley ran beside the Klumpp residence on the left. To the rear of the dwelling, behind the fence can be the kitchen garden and outhouse.
Signed bottom left, in ink, "P. Meissner./18/1/76."
2 photographs of tannery:
B: Black and white photo showing roughly the same view as A, although closer to ground level. The house is on the left and the tannery on the right. At least five people are sitting/standing on the porch of the house facing the yard. The buildings appear mostly unchanged from the watercolor. The date "1908" is written in the lower left corner in ink.
C: Black and whit photo of the tannery from the back. Four separate buildings of varying design can be seen in a row, with the smokestack extending up out of frame slightly right of center. A stone bridge over a creek is at extreme right, with creek running around the buildings to the left. The date "1929" is written in the lower left corner in blue ink.
The photographs appear to be photographic copies of the originals. They were attached to the paper backing covering the frame of the watercolor.
A: watercolor has brown staining all over, especially apparent in the sky. Further discoloration along the top edge. The pieces was cleaned (dry and wet), mended, and flattened by the Conservation Center for Art and Historic Artifacts in Philadelphia in 1991.
B,C: Photos. B is browned and faded at the edges and curves inward. Both B and C have tape and backing residue on the reverse. They were dry cleaned, mended and flattened by the CCAJA in 1991. Further details available in file.
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.
Oil Painting on paper of General John Steele. Gen. Steele is seated with his right arm on the arm of a chair, left hand on his right wrist. He's attired in a black coat high with high back collar. A high white collar around his neck has a bow tied in the front with a ruffled front.
Adam Reigart Jr. (original catalog description was Capt. John Steele)
Description
Oil portrait on canvas of Adam Reigart, Jr. (1765-1844). (Original catalog description was: "Painted portrait of Captain John Steele by Jacob Eichholtz". This ID correction approved by Tom Ryan).
Half-length male figure, faces slightly to left, gray hair brushed forward over forehead in thin wisps, long sideburns, his left ear visible; white turned down collar, light color waistcoat and white stock and frill. Black double-breasted coat. Plain brown background.
Modern wood frame 1.75" wide, painted black with gold beaded inner edge.
See G.86.09.2 for an identical oil on canvas portrait of Reigart by Eichholtz. (On art racks)
Painting has strong tears and needs cleaning. This is the condition in which it was received. Large irregular tear 7.5" x 4/5" across his left chest & shoulder. Small 1" x 1/2" tear above shoulder. Another irregular tear 2" x 1" on right shoulder. Straight line dent w/ some tearing below this. Another straight line dent 3.5" to left of head.and a 1"-long dent with tear above head. Extensive craquelure, esp. in upper 2/3.
Modern wood frame 1.75" wide is painted black with gold beading on inner edge. Round, blue sticker at top back of stretcher reads: "(W)alnut Lan(e) / Art Shop / German(town) / Philad(elphia).
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..
Painting, St. Jerome, European. Oil on canvas on board. Portrait is of bearded, bald, older man with upturned head and rapturous expression, eyes turned heavenward.
Glossy varnish over oil; canvas adhered to oak panel. Mounted in gold-painted, early, molded pine frame, likely older than painting. Wood liner, painted copper, allows painting to fit frame.
Contrived arrangement of strips on reverse mounts and secures board. Split oak panel has two thin walnut strips epoxied across back for support.
Old paper sticker printed "11" pasted to upper left corner of back. Upper right corner has old newsclipping pasted and covered with plastic strip. Article titled "Mifflin Paintings Sold at Sale" notes estate sale of Grace Minich estate in Columbis. Handwritten at top is "8 JULY 1967."
Provenance
Owned by Mifflin and hung in his home. Brought back from Europe by J. H. Mifflin. Apparently inherited by Grace Minich and sold among approx. 35 turn-of-the-century paintings, July 8, 1967."
Gold painted molded pine frame with painted wood liner.
Object Name
Painting
Material
Canvas
Medium
Painting, Oil
Height (in)
14.75
Width (in)
12.5
Dimension Details
Frame size is H: 23 inches x W: 19 inches.
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2015-01-27
Condition Notes
Oil on cavas has bubbles and other raised points; some areas of abrasion. Panel split top to bottom with cupping. Wood strips epoxied to back for support. Board has white in pores. Recent wood strips contrived to hold board.
Gold paint on frame is flaking with multiple losses. Upper corners and lower rail all have gesso losses.
Object ID
2015.017.2
Notes
St. Jerome was one of the scholars of the early church. Born around 347, he later translated much of the Bible into Latin, called the Vulgate.
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)
