On back: stencil "A. Armstrong Artist Lancaster, Pa. Painted 1846"
Pencil #3
July 17, 2017: Oil on canvas portrait has vertical seam. Seated man turned slight right with brown hair, not part. Brown eyes, prominent nose and chin. Black coat. black waistcoat, black neck wear, whit shirt with down-turned collar. Sitter's right arm draped over wooden chair back. Brown background.
July 24, 2017: Painting has extensive craqelure. On lapel just below center of painting has a 1/8 inch hole. A split 1/5" from his index finger and 2 " from bottom edge.
Frame: Back has moisture staining and soil. Front has strong grime. On right side near top is a marred spot. Gesso chips at both lower corners.
Half-length portrait of man facing slightly left. Forward swept dark hair, brown eyes with heavy brows and long face. Dark coat with high collar. Buff waiscoat, white shirt and cravat. Tall collar, folded over cravat. Brass buttons on coat. Very dark background.
Frame: Bold, wide elaborately decorated frame. Extensive applied floral composition. Protruding profile has sections of cross-hatch-like pattern. Mortise and tenon stretchers.
July 24, 2017 Poor. Two major holes previously patched, one above head and one low on coat. Two smaller holes, both near bottom left and center. Vertical crack at center right. Heavy abrasion and paint loss along left side. Slight 1" crack on top of head. Stretcher line visible. Dark with heavy grime. Canvas back has 2 large black fabric patches, top and bottom. Two small patches of paste-like substance.
Frame: Poor. Heavy soil. Very strong wear to gold paint. Gesso losses along outer edges. Back has inset strip of wood across miter joints.
On back A. H. Hood aged 36 y. painted by A. Armstrong 1842
On tag: repeats info.
On back of canvas: JISW
Seated man faces slightly right. Dark hair with widow's peak. Brey blue eyes. Square face. Black coat, black waistcoat, black bowtie, on wide peice of neckware, white shirt. Right hand on lap. Reddish chair at left. Background has large red curtain with sky visible through opening at right.
