Gloria Welby Fisher (American Mid-19th Century) Pair of Portraits of Samuel Bender and His First Wife Margaret.

Gloria Welby Fisher (American, Mid-19th Century) Pair of Portraits of Samuel Bender and His First Wife, Margaret. Samuel is signed and dated "G.W. Fisher 1850" l.r. Oil on canvas, 35 3/4 x 26 1/2 in., in period molded giltwood frames. Condition: Relined, minor retouch, paint losses around edges. Provenance: By family descent from Samuel Bender. Note: Genealogical research and family lore indicate Samuel Bender was born in 1812, in Williamsburg, Pennsylvania. He married Margaret Brisbin (b. about 1824, Boalsburg Centre, Pennsylvania), about 1843. They resided in Philadelphia where Samuel was a saddler/carriage manufacturer. They had five children before Margaret died around 1854. The portraits were painted in Philadelphia, but the Benders moved to Little Rock, Arkansas, where they had their last child. Samuel Bender remarried a few years later to Emmaline Sowell, and had five more children, before he died at about age 54. Both relined. Samuel- Retouch to upper right corner, area around hand holding the book, small spot around one finger of other hand and a few spots in background, Wife- Several areas of retouch around edges from frame rub and also paint losses around the edges.