Antique American Portrait Miniature by James H. Gillespie.

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

This is a full color portrait miniature attributed to James H. Gillespie in the original pendant frame. Gillespie began his career in England as early as 1810. He crossed over to North America, via Novia Scotia, Canada in the 1820s. From Canada, he migrated to the United States where he is known to have worked in Philadelphia, New York and Maine. This is the style that the Paynes refer to as Style 5:

Style 5: Watercolor profile portrait--profile painted with watercolor, ink and pencil used to model the features. A distinctive background shading provides what Gillespie advertised as "drapery". This background provides a good means for identifying his work. Shading around the perimeter of the portrait is achieved with large dabs of dark browns and blues concentrated on the lower right and left sides of the figure and a light blue color applied with minute brushstrokes on the top. The darker drapery catches the viewer's eye first and draws it towards the face. A few examples have only light blue coloration around the entire perimeter of teh portrait. Clothing usually painted in dark tones of black or blue, with colored buttons or jewelry and gum arabic highlights. These oval portraits have been found in lockets, wood frames, and stamped brass frames. It appears that Gillespie produced more of this style in the U.S. than the other five styles. The Paynes tell us that this is the style that Gillespie first offered for $2 and later for $4. Gillespie only painted in this style after migrating to North America.

When I acquired this Gillespie, the back of the frame was missing the back glass lens and hair receptacle. The gold wash had deteriorated and it had a handwritten label identifying the sitter as "Robert Willis - Seenok [Massachusetts]. I had the back back lens, chased metal surround for the lens, and hair receptacle replaced and the back of the frame washed with gold. The label had to be removed, but I preserved it in the photo you see below. I have found a "Robert Willis" who was born in Seekonk, Mass. in the 18th century--might be a relative, but I have not found genealogical information on this sitter.

This handsome young man is watercolor on paper. He wears a high collar above a high black stock. His jacket collar is high int he bak and rolled over. The lapel notch is low above the first of the brass buttons. This portrait dates to circa 1830. The original pendant frame with chased edges measures 2 7/8" x 2 3/8". A very nice example of an American folk portrait by a well-sought artist.

(#3804) $1775

References: Payne, Suzanne Rudnick and Payne, Michael R., "Six Choices for the Sitter, James H. Gillespie (1793-after 1849), Antiques & Fine Art, 200 (Summer/Autumn 2008) (online article at antiquesandfineart.com).

Please see the Folk Portrait Artists page for more information about J.H. Gillespie.

Top