$339,000
Ruth W. Shute (1803-1882) and Dr. Samuel A. Shute (1803-1836) Portrait of Electa Snow Pierce Inscribed on the reverse "Drawn by R.W. Shute and Painted by Samuel S.A. Shute, February 20th 1832," and in another hand "This is portrait of Electa Pierce, sister of my grand-mother Marshall, who was Mary Bowers Pierce, lived in Dunstable and Hudson, N.H." Watercolor and pencil on paper with gold foil, the subject shown half-length wearing a tortoiseshell comb, a translucent light blue scarf, and a black dress with elaborate lacework, against a bright royal blue background, 23 1/2 x 18 1/2 in., in the likely original black-painted frame with gilt liner. Provenance: By descent in the family of the sitter; Sold Sotheby's, The American Folk Art Collection of Frank and Karen Miele, January 1984, lot 50; Bert & Gail Savage; Sold Northeast Auctions, The Collection of Susan and Raymond Egan, August 5, 2006, lot 799. Literature: A Loving Likeness , p. 37, illustrated. Exhibitions: A Loving Likeness , The Gallery at Bristol-Myers Squibb, 1992. Note: Electa Snow Pierce (1817-1849) was born in Merrimack, New Hampshire. In 1832, when this portrait was painted, she was working in the mills at Lowell, Massachusetts.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2016-08-15
