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This Sturtevant J. Hamblin attributed piece absolutely the best portrait I have owned by the Prior-Hamblen School of artists.  This stunning naïve oil on paperboard portrait of a little girl sitting in a paint decorated balloon-back chair is confidently attributed to Sturtevant Hamblin (or Hamblen).  The adorable child has her hair parted down the middle, braided along the sides of her face, and tied into two pigtails with blue ribbons.  She wears gold drop earrings and a bead necklace of blue (probably turquoise) and red (probably coral).  Her blue dress echoes the blue in her ribbons and necklace (which is tied with another blue ribbon).  She sits upon a black balloon-back chair, painted decorated with red and white.  The red and white theme is carried through the double red swag drapes with black & white corded tiebacks and the nosegay of flowers in her hand.  This folk portrait has perfect symmetry (for which Hamblin is known) and outstanding composition.  As you can see in the last photo of the unframed portrait, there is a little paint rubbing from the rabbet of the frame.  Depending how the portrait sits in the frame (as there is room for very slight movement from side to side) you can sometimes see a bit of the paint rubbing on one of the side edges (see close up images below).  Under blacklight, there is one small circle of inpainting (about 1/4" diameter) on her neck just under the second red bead of the left side of her necklace.  There are three small, insignificant lines of inpainting on her proper right arm (to the left of the painting).  This insignificant inpainting is so well done that it is virtually impossible to see with the naked eye and barely shows under blacklighting.  The mahogany frame is period and of the type that Hamblin and his brother-in-law Prior used, but is not original.  Framed size is 18 1/4" x 14 1/2", sight size is 13 1/2" x 9 1/2".  Circa 1840.

This is a strong, excellent example of American folk art that will be the center of any collection.

(#4700)     Price on Request

Please see the Folk Portrait Artists page for more information about Sturtevant Hamblin.

References:

Chotner, Deborah, American Naive Paintings, The Collections of the National Gallery of Art Systematic Catalog, National Gallery of Art, Washington, Cambridge University Press 1992. 164-171.

Hickman, Madelia & Pratt, Wayne, "The 'Celebrated' William Matthew Prior (1806-1873)", Antiques & Fine Art Magazine, online article at www.antiquesandfineart.com.

Krashes, David, "Understanding the Prior-Hamblen School of Artists A Little Bit Better", Maine Antique Digest, July, 2011, online article at www.maineantiquedigest.com. 

Rumford, Beatrix T. American Folk Portraits Paintings and Drawings form the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center. New York Graphic Society, 1981. 112-117.

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