This formal portrait of a woman is from the early 1800's, and is installed in a rare hand-carved wooden frame. (All the details are carved in low relief -- you can see rough chisel marks) The woman is posed reading a letter with a magnifying glass. The glass has a long gold chain. Everything about this woman, from the bonnet to the mourning dress and the sofa she is sitting on, indicates her status as wealthy matron.
The painting is unsigned, as many early American portraits are, and the sitter is unidentified. The canvas measures 24" x 20" and the frame is 32" x 28"
The painting has been cleaned and restored. The frame is in "as-found" condition, with a few minor new repairs, and a few old repairs. In general, the frame is in good condition. It is skillfully carved, but not highly smoothed-out and refined. It is a "country" frame and as such is an American primitive from the early 1800's. The gold paint on it has dulled. It may be original, or from it's previous restoration, which could have been in the early 1900's. There is no evidence that the frame ever had another finish. It may have been originally unpainted, and made for another artwork. Although they are approximately the same age, the portrait is fit into the frame in a way that shows that they were not originally together.

Lack of a condition statement does not imply that a lot is perfect. Please examine photos, read descriptions, and contact the Gallery with any questions prior to bidding. Color fidelity of photos presented is not guaranteed.