Antique American Folk Portrait attributed to George Hartwell.

Peggy McClard Antiques

Americana & Folk Art

This is a stunning American folk portrait attributed to George Hartwell (1815-1901) of the Prior-Hamblen school of artists. Hartwell married the daughter of Joseph G. Hamblin (brother to Sturtevant and also an artist) and lived and painted in Boston with his celebrated in-laws and William Matthew Prior. This young lady is naïve, but full of life and beauty. She gazes straight at the view with large brown eyes. Her cheeks are rosy and her lips bear the Hartwell signature of a dark red upper lip and a lighter reddish-white lower lip, separated by a dark brown line. Her hair is pulled back and covers her ears and the two pin curls on her forehead add a wonderful touch of whimsey to the painting. She wears long gold drop earrings and a corded necklace tied above the v-neck of her green and black dress with its draped bodice. She sits in front of a single red and black drape with corded tassels echoing the red and black color theme. The portrait is oil on paperboard (a homemade precurser to academy board and used often by the Prior-Hamblen School). The blacklight shows that she is free of any inpainting. She resides in a beautiful period paint decorated frame with quarter-round moulding on both the inner and outer edges. Framed size is 13 3/4" x 17 5/8". Sight size is 10" x 14 1/4". Circa 1845. This is an amazing piece of American folk art by a very scarce and sought-after artist. I'm happy to email larger format photos. The price is very reasonable for this painting....just email or call and ask! (#4967) Sold Please see the Folk Portrait Artists page for more information about George Hartwell. References: Krashes, David, "An Appreciation of Nineteenth Century Folk Portraits", 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.


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