Black, grey and white chalk drawing on white medium. Image of James Buchanan's upper body, facing slightly to his right wearing dark suit, white shirt and stock collar with a white cravat. Buchanan's hair is dark with gray mixing in with his darker color. The image's matt is a cream color, Frame is gilded with bevelled and curved edge, gesso layer under paint.
Charcoal portrait on poster board ('Nat Mat Cardboards').. Drawn from neck up, "Thaddeus Stevens" is looking to the viewer's right. Artist J.A. Jolly has printed his name beneath Stevens' left shoulder. Cut-out printed black uppercase letters are attached beneath the drawing: "THADDEUS STEVENS." The surface appears to have been sprayed with a matte finish.
On reverse, written on taped-on white piece of paper: "Drawn by/ James Arthur Jolly/ April 1967/ 17 Mary St./ Millersville, Pa./Asst. Prof., M.S.C./ Memb. Lanc. Co. Hist. Soc."
Copy of a portrait of Thaddeus Stevens on stiff paper. The name, "THADDEUS STEVENS," is below the portrait of Stevens' head and shoulders in an oval bordered with a strand of leaves. Stevens face and shirt are white against a darker background. Stevens' signature appears beneath the portrait in the lower right margin.
Directly beneath to portrait in tiny font on the left: "AFTER A PHOTOGRAPH FROM LIFE BY C. W. EBERMAN."
In the center: "Entered according to act of Congress in the year 1867. By J. E. Barr, in the clerk's office of the district court of the U.S. for the eastern district of Pennsylvania./ Published by J.E.Barr, Lancaster, Penna."
Within that the framed portrait and signature measure 16.5" wide x 21.25 high.
Condition
Fair to Good
Condition Date
2023-07-24
Condition Notes
Brown acidification overall. Remnants of pieces of masking tape, 4 pieces on the back edges. On front, 2 remain, hard glue from one remains and the fourth was torn off. There is a 3-inch tear on bottom left edge. Brown lines indicate edges of mat when portrait was framed.
On back, brown border all around. The 15" x 20.5" area that is reverse of portrait is lighter in color since it had been taped/glued. The upper portion of the center piece shows many brown dots including some dark heavy blot-like stains, remnants of liquid? One cluster of these has soaked through to the front of the piece. There are indentations on all four sides from nails/tacks.
Painted portrait of William Albright (or Albrecht) (1793-1852) by Jacob Eichholtz, c. 1830
William Albright, or Albrecht, was born May 23, 1793 in Lancaster, Pennsylvania to German printer, John Albright (1745-1806). He worked intermittently in Philadelphia as an ornamental painter, lithographic artist, limner, "dancing-master," and teacher of drawing from 1815 to 1845. Albright delineated the color plates for the "Floral Magazine and Botanical Repository" (Philadelphia, 1832-1834).
In 1820, Albright returned to Lancaster at his father's bequest, where until 1836, he published the "Staatsbothe" and continued the publication of the "New and Improved North American Almanac" started by Francis Bailey in 1775. On Christmas Day in 1821 he married Mary Weaver with whom he had one daughter, Anna M. Albright (1822-1855).
Albright returned to Philadelphia ca. 1837, and following a year as a dance master, taught drawing at 21 South Fifth Street until his death in 1852.
William Albright, or Albrecht, was born May 23, 1793 in Lancaster, PA. During his lifetime he worked as a printer, ornamental painter, lithographic artist, limner, dancing-master and teacher of drawing.
Between 1820 and 1836, Albright published a German-language newpaper in Lancaster, the 'Staatsbothe,' as well as the 'New and Improved North Americna Almanac.' Albright moved to Phila. in 1837 where he spent his remaining years teaching art.
On Christmas Day in 1821 William Albirhgt married Mary Weaver. The had one daughter, Anna M. Albright (1822-1855). The birth and death dates of Mary Weaver Albright are unknown.
Printed portrait of Thaddeus Stevens with full head of curly hair and stern gaze. Mounted in old molded oak frame with handcut paper window mat.
Under bust is "THADDEUS STEVENS: "OLD COMMONER./ APRIL 4, 1792 - AUGUST 11, 1808/ Chairman Committee of Ways and Means of U.S. House of Representatives during the Civil War./ FEARLESS CHAMPION OF FREEDOM FOR THE OPPRESSED./ His unique service to the Common schools of Pennsylvania lay in retaining upon the Statue Book the Law of 1834 against the will and purpose of the majority of a Legislature elected and pledged to its repeal. In old age he spoke of this stern contest/ with much interest, and seemed to regard the memorable speech of April 11, 1835, in its results to the cause of General Education in the Commonwealth the best work of his life."
At the bottom left is "Engraved by Rea.", at center is "Lincoln Art Series: Copyright 1899, by J.P. McCaskey, Publisher, Lancaster, Pa." and at right is "Photograph by Eberman." Lower section of image has engraver's name "REA Sc."
McCaskey was a lifelong educator, principal & longtime writer of The Pennsylvania School Journal. Bio Annals notes he was a proponent of memory work in literature and he produced and displayed good portraits of notables in education (Thaddeus Stevens, Thomas Burrowes, etc.) appropriate mottoes, vocal and instrumental music, etc. In his later years, McCaskey published at lease 20 engraved images, called the "Lincoln Art Series," for display in homes and schools. He distributed many thousand copies to all parts of the country. Sometime during is long career as educator he was awarded and honorary M.A. degree and later a PhD. degree, both from Franklin and Marshall College (Bio Annals) (Written by Wendell Zercher)
Minor stains with liquid stains at very bottom (sitting in damp area), incipient breaks and creases run horizontally in several areas. Silverfish damage scattered mostly at bottom and around top & sides of image. one spot of damage under tie.
Frame is dark on face with some wear. Framing materials acidic and unprofessional.
