Halsey Munson Americana

204 North Summit Avenue

Decatur, Illinois  62522

Phone:  217-972-4645

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Early 19th C. Signed Southern Watercolor Portrait

Ca. 1825-1850 watercolor portrait of a wealthy young man beneath overarching red drapery with tassels. Areas of craquelure where the artist shaded the drapery folds with gum arabic. Unusual but very  effective technique that leads attention to the sitter, whose face is particularly well rendered. The signature of the artist, J.C. or H. Bates, is embedded in the area of blue rick-rack that conceals the artist’s difficulty with drawing hands. I can’t pinpoint exactly why but Kentucky and Tennessee come strongly to mind when I look at this portrait. Minor flea bites: small water stain at shoulder height on the right hand drapery and two sable hairs left by the artist in the impasto of the gum Arabic shading. Actually, kind of charming. 4½” x 6¼” sight size in a neat black-painted beveled frame that appears original to the portrait. 8¼” x 10” overall.  Ex-Jim and Susan Widder collection.

$950