$470
American School, 18th Century Portrait of Lydia Haven Hovey. Unsigned, sitter identified by inscriptions on the reverse. Oil on panel, depicting the seated woman wearing a white organdy bonnet and a brown dress, 29 x 21 5/8 in, framed. Condition: Craquelure with associated losses, cracks to panel. Note: Lydia Haven Hovey was born June 8, 1755 or 1756, in Sutton, Massachusetts, and was the daughter of Deacon John Haven. She married Benjamin Hovey, a soldier of the Revolution, on October 24, 1775. Later with his family, they settled in New York State and he assisted as lieutenant in quelling the rebellion in Shays' insurrection. He was an intimate friend of George Clinton, the first Governor of New York, and as a member of the Legislature, was involved in the formation of Chenango County where he was a judge. He was also a member of the board of trustees at Oxford Academy. He was court martialed for disobedience of orders while serving as a Colonel of Militia, but Governor Clinton felt it was prejudiced, and later appointed him Brigadier General.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2004-02-22