The Kindig Collection: Important American Furniture, Paintings, Silver & Decorative Arts
The Kindig Collection: Important American Furniture, Paintings, Silver & Decorative Arts
John Durand (fl. circa 1765-1782)
Portrait of a Seated Lady
Auction Closed
January 22, 09:24 PM GMT
Estimate
15,000 - 25,000 USD
Lot Details
Description
John Durand (fl. circa 1765-1782)
Portrait of a Seated Lady
Oil on canvas
Circa 1770
30 in. by 24 3/4 in.
The sitter holding a letter inscribed To Capt. Thos / In Carlisl / Phila.
Two handwritten labels on the back of the portrait inscribed This Portrait (subject unknown) was, according to Mr. John Hills Morgan Painted by John Durand who painted many portraits in Virginia. He is advertised in New York Newspapers from 1767 to 1768. This portrait dates to probably in those years. As it was painted according to tradition on Long Island; the second label states Subject Unknown Painted by John Durand. This attribution was made by John Hill Morgan and approved by John Phillips of Yale Department of Fine Arts. Costume 1760-1770.
Parke-Bernet Galleries, Inc., New York, XVII & XVIII Century American Furniture & Paintings: The Celebrated Collection formed by the Late Mr. and Mrs. Luke Vincent Lockwood, May 13, 14, and 15, 1954, lot 447.
This portrait of a woman wearing a bonnet and shawl and holding an open rose and letter is the work of John Durand (w. 1765-82), an itinerant painter working in New York, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and Virginia. His extant portraits indicate that he favored painting women in similar positions with closed lips, a bonnet with lace details, a pearl choker and holding a single flower. The presence of an early Philadelphia side chair with an acanthus carved crest rail is also exceptionally rare and a further testament to her elevated stature in Philadelphia society.