$35,550
Ruth Henshaw Bascom (American, 1772-1848) Lot of Four Profile Portraits of the Phillips Family: Israel Phillips (1771-1844), brother-in-law of the artist; his wife Mercy Bascom Phillips (1774-1853), sister of the artist's husband (Ezekiel Lysander Bascom), their son Simon Cady Phillips (1819-1906), nephew of the artist, and his wife Rossy Sofia Ballard Phillips (1818-1875). The portrait of Israel Phillips faintly inscribed and dated, possibly by the artist, "Mrs. R.H. Bascom ---- Bernardston 1842," and in a later hand "Israel Phillips of Greenfield sketched by Mrs. Ruth Bascom of Bernardston June 1842" in pencil on the reverse; the other three portraits also with identifying inscriptions on the backboards. Pastel with graphite on paper, the portrait of Rossy Phillips with segments of gold foil applied to her necklace, the first three portraits measuring 19 x 14, the portrait of Rossy Phillips measures 18 x 13 in., all in original wood frames. Condition: Foxing, the portrait of Mercy B. Phillips was extended by the artist with a strip of paper. Provenance: Descended through the family of the sitters. Note: Israel Phillips was born in Oxford, Worcester County, Massachusetts on April 7, 1771. He married Mercy Bascom, born Feb. 7, 1774, in Gill, Massachusetts, on Nov. 6, 1794, and together they had eleven children. Their youngest child, a son named Simon Cady Phillips, was born August 8, 1819 in Greenfield, Massachusetts. He married Rossy Sophia Ballard on January 27, 184 Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2008-06-08
