Antique Schoolgirl Watercolor Memorial or Mourning Painting Rembering Capt. Jonathan Foster & Rebecca Foster

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

	Exceptional watercolor on paper schoolgirl academy memorial painting from Essex County, Massachusetts. In the late 18th and early 19th century, young girls attended academies where they were educated properly, which included art. The graduation project of a school girl was often a painted or needlework memorial or mourning piece. If the young girl did not have someone for whom they were grieving, the inscription for these pieces was often left blank for later use. Obviously, this artist had someone to memorialize when she painted this touching memorial because the inscription is not only present, but she painted foliage over part of the inscription on the plinth, indicating that the inscription was part of the original design. The plinth stands tall in a graveyard with other tombstones. It is topped by a large urn and is shaded by a weeping willow tree. The urn symbolized the spirit of the departed. It is located in a pleasing garden setting in order to present pleasant surroundings for both the spirit and its family during the celebration of mourning. Willows were an ancient symbol for celebration of passing and resurrection because the willow has the regenerative power to grow again after being cut. The willow grows next to a body of water which, itself, suggests the cleansing waters of grace. The evergreens painted into the background reinforce the pattern of life-in-death, or Resurrection. Far in the background stands a pyramidal cypress or cedar tree which symbolizes death, but its upward thrust is hopeful. The mourners are two children, the older girl dressed in a white empire waist dress--the empire waist being a fashionable style in the early decades of the 19th century and the white diaphanous nature of the fabric suggesting purity and early romanticism. The young boy is dressed in a white Eaton style suit. Together they place a foliate wreath upon the plinth. In the far distance we see a village, house a bit closer than the large steeple church. Amazingly, all of the small tombstones are at least partially inscribed. Although part of the "inscriptions, may be scribbles, some words may still be picked out. For example "Beloved", "memory", "1729" [possibly "1739"]. Over the body of water is an inscription which is no longer legible. The artist worked very hard on this beautiful painting. She painted it set into the paper with painted thin watercolor borders around. The plinth reads: SACRED To the memory of Mrs. REBECCA FOSTER Who died Oct 16 1794 Aged 61, Years Blessed are the dead which die, In the Lord.~ Capt. JONATHAN FOSTER died July 28th 1813, Aged 85 Years. Death divided friends at last shall meet To part no more. Captain Jonathan Foster was born in Haverhill, Massachusetts on October 11, 1727 and died there on July 28, 1813. He was an officer in the Revolutionary War, a lieutenant in Captain John Cushing's company, Colonel Samuel Johnson's regiment on the Lexington alarm on April 19, 1775. He was commissioned in 1776 and served in the company of Colonel Nathaniel Wade in Essex County. He was also commissioned for service in Rhode Island and was a lieutenant in the French and India War. On June 28, 1764, Capt. Foster married Rebecca Dorman, who was born in 1732 to John and Rebecca (née Smith) Doorman. Together they had at least 6 children. It is likely that this painting was done by one of their many granddaughters, several who would have been the right age to have painted this in school circa 1815. Jonathan and Rebecca are buried at Mount Vernon Cemetery, Boxford, Massachusetts. This exceptional painting is housed in a period gilt frame that measures 13" x 17". There is a 4" repaired tear on the right side that runs through part of the willow (see the image of the back on the left upper corner to see the patch of period paper that is glued to repair the tear). The paper is toned as expected. There is some minor blurring to the detail, most particularly in the tiny inscriptions on the tombstones and in the body of water, as well as the painted border. The paintings is laid onto a piece of period paper and was likely kept in a lady's portfolio or scrapbook instead of being framed during the period. The backing paper bears a period iron gall ink inscription "W 7 1/8 -350". This is a historically important memorial painting memorializing an American Revolutionary War hero and a touching example of early 19th century school girl academy art and folk art. (#4930) $3500 Please see Early Mourning Rituals for more information on memorial paintings & jewelry.


Illegible inscription over body of water. Computer enhanced.	Repaired tear.

	Inscription on reverse
Reverse of painting. Note the period patch in upper left which corresponds to tear in willow tree.
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