Justus Dalee (1793-1878)

Inscribed along the bottom: Delineated in Palmyra, March 1843. Some discoloration on left and right side.

According to Michael and Suzanne Payne ("To Please the Eye: Justus Da Lee and His Family", Folk Art, Winter 2004/2005, pages 46-57), these full standing children's portraits were done as parts of a large family group of portraits.  Each family member was done individually and, if the child was generally less than 4 years old, the child would be painted in his characteristic full standing pose.  They also state that a group of letters between the various family members surfaced while they were doing their research.  These wonderful letters have been donated to the American Folk Art Museum.  A letter, dated May 8, 1843, from Justus to Richard, actually discusses Justus's visit to Palmyra, New York.  This letters states, "I went to Palmyra, as I wrote John (another brother) and made $50 in less than 3 weeks, all money.  Mary (his wife) and I started again April 11 and visisted Palmyra a second time: made from 50 to 60 dol's more, but instead of money it was mostly trade."  This image of a full standing child in a yellow dress with the description "Delineated in Palmyra" represents a rare example we have seen from these two Palmyra trips and the most unusual circumstance that we have a folk painter actually describing in a letter that he visited and painted in this city during these dates.