Miniature watercolor portrait of Simon Cameron, turned in profile to his right, withing a painted oval, all on rectangular buff-colored paper. Cameron is painted at about age 60, in profile with a resolute expression on his face. He is wearing formal attire: a dark black-collared coat with a white, high collar protruding at his neck and a suggestion of a cravat of jabot at his neck. The background is shaded in tones of brown and the artist's signature in printed in black at the bottom of Cameron's coat, "E. Hergesheimer." Portrait must certainly have been done posthumously as Hergesheimer would have been only 16 years of age when Cameron died. (Photos and more information in file.) Written by Wendell Zercher.
Provenance
Possession of the portrait by the Slaymaker family is probably due to the intermarriage of the Slaymaker and Cameron families. Cameron's niece (Jane Elizabeth Cameron Redsecker) married Colonel S.C. Slaymaker (1828-1894) on May 28, 1862. Then descent to widow of S.R. Slaymaker II.
Generally in good condition and stable. Acid burned around perimeter where in contact with frame and window mat; heavily soiled front and back; dark stains at upper corners where previously hinged; 3 or 4 areas around perimeter where paper has been scraped, abraded, dented and even punctured. Edges of paper have been unevenly cut. Treated at Lancaster Galleries with de-acidifying spray and reframed.
