Chester Harding (US, 1792-1866)

Chester Harding
(American, 1792-1866)

"Portrait of Mrs. Henrietta 'Harriet' McDonnell, nee Tarascon Gilly (1821-1851)", ca. 1842

oil on canvas
unsigned.
Framed.
24" x 20", framed 31-1/2" x 27-1/2"

Provenance: With the McDonnells, thence by descent to their eldest daughter, Cora Ann McDonnell McGraw (1839-1906); to her daughter, Cora McGraw Law (1867-1957); to her niece, Lucille "Lucy" McGraw Collins (1893-1950); to her son Frederick Hunter Collins, Jr. (1921-1967) and his wife Josephine Thomas Collins Watkins (1924-1992); to their son Frederick Hunter Collins III (b. 1949).

Exhibited: Cabildo, Louisiana State Museum, New Orleans, 1942;
National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.; J. B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky. Washington, D.C., 1985

Literature: Accompanied by select correspondence with the heirs, including two 1942-1943 exhibition letters from the Louisiana State Museum sent to Cora Law; a 1984 letter from the National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institute sent to Josephine Collins confirming the inclusion of the painting in its exhibition catalogue; and a 2003 letter from a conservator to the current owner.

Mrs. Thomas Nelson Carter Bruns, Louisiana Portraits, New Orleans, National Society of the Colonial Dames of America, 1975, p. 180;
Leah Lipton, A Truthful Likeness: Chester Harding and His Portraits. Exh. cat. National Portrait Gallery, Washington, D.C.; J. B. Speed Art Museum, Louisville, Kentucky. Washington, D.C., 1985.
Dimensions: 27.5 x 31.5 in
Condition Report: In overall very good, professionally restored condition. The painting has been relined and restretched/resized. Under UV light, the sitter's face, neck and bosom are completely intact. Very small inpainted "touch-ups" and line filler are scattered throughout. There is an ~8" crease to the right side that has been filled, but is not indicative of a tear. Painting exhibits some craquelure, blooming (whitish haze) to the varnish layer in the background of the painting, and some abrading along the top edge where it was cut and relined. Former left tacking edge is visible under UV light as there are some very small nail holes along the side.