Roswell Park, dated 1824

Inscribed along the bottom: Inscribed and Presented to Col. Roswell Lee Esqur. by Roswell Park

The Collection of Mr. and Mrs. John H. Thayer, Sotheby's, October 23, 1987, sale 5620, lot 24

Springfield, Massachusetts, The Holyoke Museum, A Folk Art Pilgrimage, November 3 – December 23, 1988;
New York, New York, The American Folk Art Museum, Vernacular Architecture, September 14, 1996 to January 12, 1997

The below is excerpted from a conservation report conducted by the Williamstown Regional Art Conservation Laboratory in September 1988: There are at least two earlier restorations. The first lined the object onto canvas. The second mended two tears with Japanese paper and made an insert on the upper edges. Abraded areas were in-painted in an ochre tone trying to match the discolored varnish. The object was lined with tears onto the canvas. Insect damage appeared later, causing small hole lines through the paper and canvas in the right half of the object. The object was at some time pinned to a support, causing pinholes and losses along the upper and lower edge in paper and canvas. The Frame is sound, with several small losses of gesso, areas of missing metal leaf overall where black bole is now visible, areas of missing yellow varnish in top cove where silver metal s now visible, and accumulated dirt overall.
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.

The fire depicted here was supposed to have started from cinder from the forge that lodged under the caves of the main building and spread rapidly by the high winds of that cold March day.  As illustrated in the watercolor, three fire engines, the bucket brigade and much help from the townspeople prevented the fire from spreading to the building at the right, containing the offices and Colonel Lee's quarters.  The top floor of the main building was totally destroyed by fire.

From the Hampden Patriot, March 10, 1824 comes the following account: 'The officers of the United States Armory tender their sincere thanks to the citizens of this vicinity, for their spirited and persevering exertions in checking and subduing the late fire at this establishment.'

Amongst Roswell Lee's papers came the following information which forged a link between the artist, Roswell Park, and Colonel Lee: 'Dear Sir: I have concluded to make application for an appointment at the W. Point Academy.  In your recommendation you will please to state my having surveyed the Armory and my qualifications as far as they are known to you.  I have engaged to teach school 4 months here this winter...' Roswell Park, Burlington, Otsego Co., N. York, Oct. 21 A.D. 1824.

Roswell Park went on to become an educator and clergyman.  He was born in Lebanon, Connecticut, October 1, 1807, and graduated from the U.S. Military Academy at West Point in 1831, was commissioned in the Army Corp of Engineers, became a Professor of Chemistry and Natural Philosophy at the University of Pennsylvania from 1836–1842.  He later became an ordained Deacon of the Protestant Episcopal Church in 1843 of Pomfret, Connecticut and was the headmaster of the Christ Church Hall in Pomfret from 1845–1852.  From 1852 to 1859, he was the founder and first President of Wisconsin College in Racine.  As an author, he wrote: A Sketch of the History and Topography of West Point and of the United States Military Academy, 1840; Pantology or A Systematic Survey of Human Knowledge, 1841.  He died July 16, 1869. 

Copies of the letter quoted above, including a full description and accounting of the conflagration, will accompany this lot along with a Xerox copy of a portrait of Lt. colonel Lee done by Zedekiah Belknap.

A virtually identical, though unsigned example was sold in the Collection of Mr. and Mrs. William E. Wiltshire III, April, 1981.