$5,629
Manner of Melchior de Hondecoeter (Dutch, 1636-1695) Still Life with Peacock and Fowl Unsigned, inscribed "Property of Elmina B. [Brewster] Sewall" on a label and "Mrs. Brewster #1" on the stretcher. Oil on canvas, 17 x 27 5/8 in. (43.2 x 70.2 cm), framed. Condition: Lined, retouch, craquelure, minor losses. Provenance: A private Connecticut collection. N.B. Elmina Brewster Sewall (1911-2005) was a lifelong animal lover and advocate. As a young adult, Sewell owned a kennel that was amongst the first breeders of Sussex spaniel show dogs in the United States (1). She was also an accomplished amateur equestrienne, stable owner, and member of the Watertown Hunt Club. (2) In her later years, she devoted herself to the care and rescue of animals, including racing greyhounds. She co-founded the Animal Welfare Society of West Kennebunk, Maine, in 1967, where she served as president for seventeen years. (3) (1) http://www.animalpeoplenews.org/05/5/tsg.humanobits5.05.htm (2) "Miss Elmina Brewster, Equestrienne, Wed to Marshall C. Sewell in New Haven Home," The New York Times , April 8, 1938, pg. 22. (3) http://www.sewellgenealogy.com/p50.htm Losses to peacock's comb and area of trees u.r., scattered old retouch, fine craquelure throughout.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2011-05-20
