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.
Watercolor painting of St. Mary's Church on South Prince Street in Lancaster in gilt frame.
Paining shows the Roman Catholic church painted from the street. Three passersby dressed in the style of 1800-1850, pass in front of the stone wall surrounding the church property. Fencing atop wall encircles the church building and adjoining cemetery. Large tall trees from a backdrop to church.
Painting is unsigned.
This is one of at least three very similar paintings. The other two are found in Gerry Lestz's Artists' Album/Lancaster County and another in Carl Drepperd's American Pioneer Arts and Artists. Both Drepperd and Lestz have captions stating the paintings date from about 1835. Likely theses paintings were executed by a number of students or the copied the work of the original artist.
This is similar to version 1.45.84 (loan by Mrs. R. Harcourt Darmstaetter).
Provenance
Purchased from Steven F. Still Antiques, Elizabethtown on Dec. 27, 1998, for $450.00.
Date Range
1835
Storage Location
LancasterHistory, Lancaster, PA
Storage Room
DAC
Storage Wall
Island 5
Storage Cabinet
Unit 42
Storage Shelf
Shelf 2
Storage Drawer
Bin 2-G
Object Name
Painting
Length (cm)
15.24
Length (ft)
0.5
Length (in)
6
Width (cm)
21.59
Width (ft)
0.7083333333
Width (in)
8.5
Dimension Details
Framed: 13.5 inches wide x 11.5 inches
Condition
Good
Condition Date
1999-01-12
Condition Notes
Watercolor mounted on heavy paper backing; margins of backing have moisture stain at bottom right and insect damages across top and right. All paper darkened overall from age and acid, and painting has some foxing across surface.
Watercolor,Bringing Home Christmas, "shows a winter scene with many trees and fences. The main subject is a man in a horse-drawn sleight with a Christmas tree following a dog onto a covered bridge. A stream runs through the middle of the scene and under the bridge. Several house appear in the background as well as a man cutting down a tree in the upper left and deer in the upper right.. (Scott Sager, 01/26/2001)
Artist's name, Hattie K. Brunner, written lower left of the primitive painting.
Taped to back, 3 newspaper articles: 1) "Local Artist Gains Fame...at 83" , 9/18/1973; 2) "$3,100 for a Hattie Brunner" no date; 3) "Hattie Bruner, Antique Dealer, Artist Dies," 8/2/1982. Hattie was 92 years old when she died.
Provenance
Given in memory of J. Nelson Newcomer, V.M.D., by his sisters, Beatrice N. Stauffer and Ethel N. Herr.
Brown paint on frame rubbed off on some corners and edges. A chip reveals light wood on upper right back edge. No cover on back sealing painting from outside dirt. Acidified clippings about the artist glued to the back
Jan. 6, 2001: A correction to the painting has been done in the lower left area, under the sleigh: a roughly triangular area about 1.5 " across and 1.25" high has been white out and the fence and tree leaves re-done. (Scott Sagar)
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.
Residence of the Late Patrick McEvoy of Manheim Township
Description
Black and white drawing, pen, ink,pencil and watercolor on cream-colored paper. Drawing show the Harrisburg Pike residence of Patrick McEvoy (1805-1870) who was a railroad contractor and later a partner in a banking house on E. King St. in Lancaster. The drawing consists of a barn and a yard in front with animals and a large house to the right surrounded by large trees. A road in foreground has a carriage, two horses and a driver in motion. A watercolor wash is used to shade and fill in and add texture to grass, trees, roofs, animals, clouds, etc.
Caption at bottom reads: "RES OF LATE PATRICK McEVOY./ MANHEIM, TP LANCASTER, COUNTY, PA." In the second line, "MANHEM, Tp" is crossed out and "Manheim Tp" is handwritten underneath in black ink.
Mounted in a wood frame that is painted black with a veneered face. Step-matted in black and cream.
Seller's label on back reads: "CA. 1875 ORIGINAL B & W WASH OF/ THE RESIDENCE OF THE LATE PATRICK/ McEVOY OF MANHEIM TOWNSHIP/ LANCASTER COUNTY, PA./LOCATED ALONG HARRISBURG PIKE, IT WAS TORN DOWN IN 1967.
Lines of brown soiling around edges. Four small brown moisture stains to left. Minimal brown stains overall. Black line under caption. Two white spots in lower right corner.
Object ID
P.99.01.01
Notes
See paper object file for references to McEvoy in:
- Biographical Annals of Lancaster County, p.99
-1869 Directory of Lancaster County, pp. 305, 395 & 409.
-slide & 2 photos
Patrick McEvoy was born in Ireland in 1805, came to America in 1823 and quickly became a prominent railroad contractor. In 1867 he became a member of the banking house of Evans, McEvoy & Co. in Lancaster. See copy of Bio Annals entry for other notable business and political activities. He died in 1870 and is buried in St. Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Lancaster.
Also, invoice of purchase from The Book Haven, Lancaster, PA
Engraved print entitled "Wright's Ferry, on the Susquehanna,/Pennsylvania." Above the title and under the scene is printed: "Engraved by G. Cooke, from a Large Print, by permission of Mr. Nightingale."
The scene depicts the Susquehanna River as it flows between Wrightsville and Columbia. Two behatted men on the river bank in the foreground, one seated and one standing with a walking stick. The scene looks north to the town of Columbia on the right (east) bank with building nestled close to a large cliff which represents Chickies Rock. Several sailboats are docked at Columbia and another is moored at the west bank of the river with several men standing nearby. No signs of settlement apparent on the York County side of the river.
As noted, this print is copied from another 'large print,' which in turn was published by George Nightingale in London in 1809, drawn by George Beck and engraved by Thomas Cartwright.
Woodcut print on tan, wove paper, done in black ink and hand colored, rectangular shape with vertical orientation. Paper print is mounted with three hinges on cream-colored matboard. Frame is a simple 19th century square profile, brown frame (not original to artwork) with hanging ring at top edge.
Within a single-line border is an image of a female scrivener, in profile, facing viewers left. She is dressed in a blue Empire gown and seated on a tan klismos chair with a strange device underneath (a green pyramid supporting a ball which in turn is surrounded with red balls). Woman has red dot on cheek as well as in a void in her hair. She holds a feather quill in her left hand and a book held up in right hand. Upper left corner of print has a red line painted to delineate a triangle which is painted blue.
Heavily inked lines and large expanses such as hair, book and shoes. All paint is semi-transparent watercolor except for the red which is very thick, opaque and now cracking.
Image is attributed to David Bixler (farmer and folk artist) who produced hand-colored prints such as this as well as portraits, maps, decorated auction bills, taufscheins, religious texts, flowers, etc. He also cut tombstones. See article written by Miriam E. Bixler as well as Papers for Birth Dayes, both in the paper file.
Provenance
This Bixler print is from the Paul Flack collection and is only being brokered through Ron Trauger.
See also: P02.17.1 a Bixler print of stag, P02.27.1-2 prints by Clement Bixler.
Generally very good except for two significant U-shaped tears near top where someone tried to pull piece away from the hinges. (A third hinge holds piece 1/3 from bottom.) Small dog-eared corner at top right. Darkened paper overall. A test of the pH pen indicates all mounting board is neutral or acid-free.
Object ID
P.01.59.1
Notes
David Bixler and his brother Absolam (d. 1884, a potter, woodcarver and farmer) were sons of Abraham Bixler (d. 1847) who owned a sawmill on Muddy Creek in Brecknock Twp. David Bixler lived on the road from Dry Tavern to Reamstown in Brecknock Twp.
Consult paper file for references, prices and copy of "David Bixler, Folk Artist" by Miriam E. Bixler, published in the Journal of the Lancaster County Historical Society, vol. 81, No. 1, 1977.
