Frederick Mayhew (1785-1854)

American, depicting a handsome sitter in half length, in graphite and watercolor, signed on back "newbedford, Painted by F, Mahew, 1823"; 3.5" x 3" (sight), housed in period frame.

Frederick Mayhew worked in New Bedford, Massachusetts, and on the island of Martha’s Vineyard, where he was born in the small farming community of Chilmark. He began his career as a profile painter, and eventually began to paint more detailed, full portraits, mostly of whaling captains and their families. His portraits of these mariners and merchants document their status as an emerging middle class. According to Martha’s Vineyard lore, he made his paint by mixing Gay Head clay and dogfish oil, but this is likely more myth than reality. In 1834, Mayhew, his wife, and daughter settled in Noble County, Ohio, where he turned to farming exclusively.
Condition Report: Slight toning to paper, otherwise in good state of preservation.