$57,500
Attributed to Asahel Lynde Powers (American, 1813-1843) Portrait of Rollin Richmond of Barnard, Vermont. Unsigned, identified and dated in inscription on the reverse reading "ROLLIN RICHMOND'S. BARNARD. FEB. 1831. AE. 24." Oil on poplar panel, 28 1/2 x 19 1/2 in., unframed. Condition: Curvature to panel, scattered abrasions. N.B. Rollin Richmond (1806-c. 1859) was, according to Barnard town history, a very successful merchant and farmer. The Richmonds, whose forebear John Richmond had been one of the founders of Taunton, Massachusetts in 1637, were a prominent family in Barnard from 1777. A leading town citizen, Rollin Richmond held numerous Barnard offices during his residence there. Around 1840, Richmond moved to St. Louis. The portrait was recently discovered among the rafters of the Barnard home Richmond had built in the 1830s. Additional family history is available. This portrait on wood panel depicts a twenty-four year old Rollin Richmond seated in a green highly decorated Windsor side chair. The technical limitations of this portrait are contrasted with a powerful style and richness of colorful detail. The style of lettering on the reverse maybe seen in other signed works by Asahel Powers, who worked in Vermont from 1831 until 1840.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2001-08-12
