This is an original Chester (Charles) Harding (1792 – 1866) oil painting of John C. Dodge dated circa 1849 from the Sjaardema Art Collection. Chester Harding was born in 1792, in Conway, Massachusetts, the fourth of 12 children. He married Caroline Woodruff and in 1815, he was forced to leave New York State due to mounting debts. After his family joined him in Pittsburgh around 1818, he was introduced to portraiture by an itinerant artist named Nelson. Largely self-taught, he achieved some success before moving to Kentucky and then felt the influence of Matthew Jouett, a slightly older artist working in the manner of Gilbert Stuart. In the coming years, he painted in Kentucky, Ohio, Missouri, and Washington, D.C. During the winter of 1819-1820 he traveled to Philadelphia for two months of study at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He received notoriety for his portrait of the 90-year-old Daniel Boone, which was then engraved by several printmakers. In 1823, in Boston he received astounding reception and commissions and later moved to Northampton, Massachusetts in preparation for his anticapited trip to Europe. In London, he worked with artists Charles Robert Leslie and Sir Thomas Lawrence as well as painting for the Royal family. He later sent for his family to join him in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1830, he became an important and visible force in the Boston art world, largely through his ownership of a studio building that was the site of many important exhibitions. Much of each year was spent on the road, executing portraits in New York, Louisiana, Kentucky, and points in between. In all, he is thought to have painted over 1000 portraits. After the death of his wife in 1845, he made a second, nine-month visit to Europe. Thereafter, he painted less, though never giving up his brushes entirely. His interests late in life gravitated toward landscape architecture and fishing. He died in Boston in 1866.The back of the original painting was signed “Portrait of J.C. Dodge for Mabel Dodge Bullis (Picture of Father)”. John C. Dodge was born in Peterborough, New Hampshire in circa 1820, with this portrait painted in the 1840s. He arrived in San Francisco, California in the 1840s. He was a merchant in hardware with his brother Henry Dodge and also worked in real estate. He retired in San Rafael with vacation home in Bolinas, CA. in 1876, and later died in circa 1900. The painting was found and identified as being her father, John C. Dodge, by Chester Charles Harding by Mabel Dodge Bullis (1883-1982) in San Rafael / Bolinas. Mabel Dodge Bullis authored a 1974, book on their family history. John C. Dodge was relative to Henry Dodge (1782-1867) noted American politician and military officer. This painting is an oil on board showing beautiful detail and being well kept. The oil has some crackling and crazing from its very early age, but it doesn’t appear to have much if any loss. There is a very small blemish lower left and a mark at the forehead. The piece is in an original very early rare gold gilt wood frame with a large grandious size and design, being one, if not the best, antique 19th Century frame we have ever offered for sale. The frame is well kept, mostly being in good condition with some slight chipping but overall outstanding in looks and a heavy weight. Provenance: From the Henry and Jean Sjaardema Art Collection. Signature could be behind, frame, but is considered unsigned, identified by original family and confirmed by Sjaardema's expert historic experience. The artwork board measures 19.75” by 15 3/8” and the frame is 33.5” by 29.5”.*

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