Southern School, c. 1840s , "Portrait of Julia Adelaide Brown (1835-1907)", oil on canvas, unsigned, 30 in. x 25 in., framed . Provenance: James Norfleet Brown (1806-1859); thence by descent. Note: Julia Adelaide Brown was born in 1835 in West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana, the first of six children to James Norfleet Brown and Esther Dubose McCrea Brown. Her father was originally from Adams County, Mississippi, yet his grave marker states that he “was a native of the Parish of West Feliciana” – a strong statement of his love for the land that became his adopted home. This portrait of Julia was likely painted not long after she and her parents moved to Manchac Plantation in Iberville Parish in 1840. Brown was a successful sugar planter and well respected by his neighbors, representing his parish for one session of the Louisiana Legislature. The Brown family home along Bayou Manchac and the Mississippi River was beautifully and skillfully rendered by Adrian Persac in the 1850s in a rare work offered in a subsequent lot in this sale. Julia is depicted at approximately six to eight years old, sitting with her hands demurely clasped in her lap within a classical landscape. She wears a coral necklace that harkens to the belief that coral held protective properties. Coral was a popular medium for jewelry during the late eighteenth to mid-nineteenth centuries and can be seen in numerous portraits of the time period, particularly those of children. Although not the exact set worn by Julia in the portrait offered here, the finely carved pieces of coral set in gold in the following lot also descended in the Brown family.

Condition is NOT stated in the description of the lot. The absence of a condition report does not indicate the lot is free of damage or condition issues. Available Condition Reports will appear as an additional image. Condition Reports and photographs may be requested on items until the Wednesday prior to the auction. Bid accordingly. All sales are final, no returns are accepted on the basis of condition.