Pair of Portrait Miniatures of a Young Couple
att: James H. Gillespie

Presented here, a fine pair of American Portrait Miniatures confidently attributed to James H. Gillespie, c. 1830's.  While he painted in a number of different styles according to Suzanne Rudnick Payne and Michael R. Payne in their article Six Choices for the Sitter,  the distinctive background shading shown here provides for ready identification of this artist's work.  The  bust-length profiles are on card and heightened with gum arabic.  2-5/8 x 2-1/8 in., in matching period molded mahogany frames with gilt brass liners.  He painted his portraits in a number of identifiable styles, but one thing they all had in common was the painterly quality he was known for, reflecting the personal features of each sitter.  

R11H140771
0781

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