$42,000
Attributed to Micah Williams (New Jersey and New York, 1782-1837) Portrait of a Woman Holding a Book. Unsigned. Pastel on paper, c. 1820, depicting a likeness of a woman seated in a chair, with blue-gray eyes, wearing a sheer white ruffled bonnet, black shawl and dress, against a background color similar to her eye color, in her left hand she holds a book, sight size 25 3/4 x 21 in., in a black-painted molded wood frame. Condition: Two repaired tears u.r. Note: Micah Williams worked mainly in pastels in the vicinity of Monmouth County, New Jersey. He often keyed the background color to the color of the subject's eyes and usually lined the pastel paper with newspaper as was done in this example. Exhibited: The Minneapolis Institute of Arts, By and for the People: American Folk Art From a Private Collection, October 3rd -November 14th 1976, retaining exhibition label. Lot 141- Vestiges of the newspaper lining remaining, a layer of plain paper also covers the back of the work, which the news paper was applied to. A few areas of that paper is gone as well. In the uncovered area on the back, two repaired tears are visible in that area. Both located upper right about 1 1/2 and 1/2 in. lg., (both with conservationist repairs). Unobtrusive abrasions, one at. u. l. corner in background, about 1 in. lg. another about 1/2 in. lg., above her bonnet top, on the left side of her head, 1 1/2 in. lg. horizontal crease or tear u.r., fairly unobtrusive. Apperars to be original stretc Read more…
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2006-02-19
