att. Joshua Johnson (MD, circa 1765 - after 1826), A
att. Joshua Johnson (MD, circa 1765 - after 1826), A Pair of Portraits
oil on canvas (lined), unsigned, presented in period appropriate hardwood frames. Both sitters depicted half length and at a three quarter view as is typical for Johnson's portraits. The woman wears a finely detailed cameo brooch on her lace collar and the man with high starched collar.
SS 25.25 x 21.75 in.; DOA 31.25 x 27.5 in.
Joshua Johnson is credited as the earliest documented professional African-American painter. He advertised himself as a "self-taught genius" in the Baltimore Intelligencer on December 19, 1798. While there is some question regarding his cultural identity, he was a successful portrait painter and made a living for his family by painting other affluent members of Baltimore society.
Southern Private Collection
Additional high-resolution photos are available at LelandLittle.com
Condition Report: Areas of over-cleaning; both with re-touch visible under UV light (man with retouch affecting much of face, left of face and scattered within clothes and background; woman with retouch in face and scattered throughout with larger areas to left and around head); minor rubbing and nicking to frames.
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att. Joshua Johnson (MD, circa 1765 - after 1826), A Pair of Portraits
oil on canvas (lined), unsigned, presented in period appropriate hardwood frames. Both sitters depicted half length and at a three quarter view as is typical for Johnson's portraits. The woman wears a finely detailed cameo brooch on her lace collar and the man with high starched collar.
SS 25.25 x 21.75 in.; DOA 31.25 x 27.5 in.
Joshua Johnson is credited as the earliest documented professional African-American painter. He advertised himself as a "self-taught genius" in the Baltimore Intelligencer on December 19, 1798. While there is some question regarding his cultural identity, he was a successful portrait painter and made a living for his family by painting other affluent members of Baltimore society.
Southern Private Collection
Additional high-resolution photos are available at LelandLittle.com
Condition Report: Areas of over-cleaning; both with re-touch visible under UV light (man with retouch affecting much of face, left of face and scattered within clothes and background; woman with retouch in face and scattered throughout with larger areas to left and around head); minor rubbing and nicking to frames.
Estimate
Time, Location
Auction House
