Joseph H. Davis (1811 - 1865)

The following history was kindly provided by Bruce Dix, who lives on the historical Glidden Farm in Lee, New Hampshire.

David S. Glidden was born on December 23, 1821, the son of Captain James Glidden, and nephew of Deacon Guy Glidden, who owned the historic Glidden-Towle house at Wadley Falls in New Hampshire.  He was the direct descendant of Charles Glidden, an early settler and blacksmith of Strawbery-Banke in Portsmouth.  In about 1668, Charles moved from Portsmouth to Old Exeter—or modern day, Lee—located on the south side of the Lamprey River at Wadley Falls.  In 1686, Charles was granted a permit to operate an inn—or public house—on the Exeter property, and later the family operated both mills and tanneries on that property.  It’s on that property that the

From 1834 – 1837, Joseph H. Davis lived in both Dover and Durham, New Hampshire and South Berwick, Maine.  It is during this period that he probably painted the present lot.

David Stevens Glidden, the present subject, was born the second son of his family, but assumed the role of eldest when his older brother died prematurely.  It likely was soon after his brother's death that David would be depicted in the present portrait, following his assumption of new responsibilities.

David's descendants include Richard Glidden—who patented barbed wire in 1874—and later the founders of Glidden Paint.  His present day descendants include the proprietors of Glidden's Island Seafood on Nantucket Island, whose contribution was essential to the genealogical history accounted in the above cataloguing.

For more on the Glidden family, see the Glidden Genealogy, 1632—2005 by Doris Glidden.

Background paper darkened, slightly faded at proper right of flowers; minor trimming of edges of paper, backed with rice paper, conserved by Alvarez.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.