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.
Water color portrait of a young man on wove paper. The subject depicted in full-length profile, facing to the viewer's right, with the left foot in front of the right. He has brown hair that curls up at the neck 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 four white 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 slight buckling down left side. Some small brown spots in upper left corner, below the cloud; also spotted across the non-blue portion of the sky. There is a crease running from the extreme right edge (at approximately the height of the subject's hand) to the bottom, ending slightly less than an inch from the lower right corner.
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.
John Gundaker Brenner (according to family tradition)
Description
Framed oil on canvas portrait on panel; male figure, said to be John Gundaker Brenner (1808-1879/80) according to great aunt of donor. Body faces slightly right, head turned slightly to left. Brown hair parted on his left with wisps brushed forward onto forehead and onto left temple; long sideburns. Blue eyes. White collar and stock, light waistcoat, dark jacket has high, wide collar and double row of 8 brass buttons. Plain light background. Has 5"-wide gilded 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.
Rebecca Beal, "Jacob Eichholtz, 1776-1842", #69 & #70, p. 21.
Height (cm)
74.295
Height (ft)
2.4375
Height (in)
29.25
Width (cm)
61.595
Width (ft)
2.0208333333
Width (in)
24.25
Dimension Details
Frame: 38.25" x 33.25" x 2"
Condition
Good
Condition Date
2017-07-19
Condition Notes
Moderate craquelure overall except for smooth 2"-wide strip bordering all four sides. Paper sticker on back states: "Rebacked and restored" in 1937 by Hannah Mee Horner, Upper Darby, PA. Gilt frame has strong wear to gilding. Miter joints do not close completely.
Ptg. secured in frame with copper strips at corners.
Object ID
2017.009.1
Notes
See Beale, page 21 for description and comments. She entitles this entry "Brenner Family, Presumed Man of."
Credit
Gift of Marjorie P. Stoddard in memory of Marjorie Snowden Murray