Miniature portrait of Frances O. Swarr by J. Henry Brown. Oval image of Swarr is surrounded by a red velvet oval contained in a rectangular gold-colored plaster frame. Portrait is of a woman in a white dress, shoulders exposed; straight dark hair parted in middle. Part of a set with 2021.029.001 (Hiram B. Swarr). typed label on back identifies subject and artist. Framed by Wunderly Brothers, Pittsburgh.
John Henry Brown's career began in Philadelphia in 1845, where he painted most of his sitters. Brown often preferred to take daguerreotypes of his sitters and use those as guides for his miniatures, rather than having the person sit for him. He claimed it was easier to work from a small image than from a life-size model. (Smithsonian)
Provenance
Part of a collection of 109 letters, documents and 3 clippings saved by Hiram B. Swarr, Attorney & Co-Executor for the estate of James Buchanan.
