Gentleman in Gold Vest, by Richard Verbryck, Circa 1815

A strong American portrait miniature of a gentleman with red-brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a blue jacket, gold vest, white shirt, and white cravat, against a sky background. The painting is set in a gilt pendant frame, the reverse with a glazed aperture holding black silk. A cut-down trade card of Verbryck’s is inside of the frame.

Richard Verbryck (1784-after 1860), was born in Hillsborough, New Jersey, to Major William Verbryck and Rebecca Low Verbryck. When Richard was sixteen the family moved to Kentucky, and by age 29 Verbryck was one of the earliest miniature painters working in Ohio and Indiana. Possibly an itinerant artist, Verbryck placed an ad in the Western Spy in Cincinnati in 1813 for his services, bought land in Franklin, Indiana in 1831 and, in the 1840s, moved back and forth between Ohio and Kentucky. In 1844 he married Elizabeth Whiteneck, and and they settled in Franklin, Indiana and raised two boys.¹ Two miniatures signed by him may be found at the Cincinnati Art Museum. Verbryck's miniatures are scarce, and earlier miniatures by him, such as this one, are particularly scarce.

1. Julie Aronson and Marjorie E. Wieseman, Perfect Likeness, Yale University Press, 2006, p. 311.

Dimensions: Image: 2 ½ x 2 inches. Frame: 3 1/8 x 2 5/8 inches.

Lady in Bonnet, Signed by Anthony Meucci, Circa 1825

An American portrait miniature of a woman with red-brown hair and blue eyes, wearing a black dress, a white lace shawl, and a white lace bonnet, against a brown background. The painting is signed: Meucci at the left, and is set in a red leather travelling wallet case.

Anthony Meucci (fl. 1818-1827) came to America from Rome. He painted miniatures and taught drawing, and was active in New Orleans from 1818 to 1827, with working visits to Charleston, South Carolina, New York City, and Salem, Massachusetts. Meucci was married to artist Nina Meucci. The couple moved to Havana, Cuba in 1827, and then to South America. Among his sitters was Simon Bolivar, Marquis de Lafayette, and George Washington. Four miniatures by Meucci are in the New York Historical Society collection, including three rare ones of black sitters from the Toussiant family, and two miniatures are in the collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dimensions: Image:3 x 3 ½ inches. Case: 3 ¾ x 3 ¼ inches.

Lady In Black, by Sarah Goodridge, Circa 1830

An American portrait miniature of a woman with blue eyes and blonde hair, wearing a black dress with a white ruff collar and a white headdress, against a greenish-gold background. The painting is set in a lemon-gilt wood frame.

Sarah Goodridge [also Goodrich] (1788-1853), was one of America's most remarkable miniaturists. Born into a large family in Massachusetts--which included her sister and fellow miniaturist Eliza Goodridge--Sarah was primarily self-taught. She initially worked in oils until a fellow miniature painter in Hartford, probably Elkanah Tisdale, gave her some instruction in watercolor on ivory, at which point she developed an affinity for the medium. In 1820 she established a studio in Boston, where she became friends with the American master painter Gilbert Stuart, from whom she received informal tutelage for several years. In addition to painting a miniature of Stuart, Goodridge also painted miniatures of Daniel Webster, who became an intimate friend, and of General Henry Lee, among many other distinguished clients. Goodridge rose to become the most prominent miniaturist in Boston during her time period. She never married, living instead in the area with various family members. She exhibited at the Boston Athenaeum, and painted miniatures until failing eyesight forced her to stop, ten years before her death. Examples of her work may be seen in the Metropolitan Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Cincinnati Art Museum, the American Antiquarian Society, the Yale Art Gallery, the Neville-Strauss Collection, and others.

Dimensions: Image: 3 x 2 ½ inches. Frame: 7 x 6 inches.

Joel White, Quaker, by Abraham Parsell, Circa 1830

An American portrait miniature of Joel White, with black hair and brown eyes, dressed in a black coat, yellow vest, and white shirt, against an atmospheric brown background. The painting is set in the original gilt pendant case with a foliate rim, the reverse with a glazed aperture containing a plait of brown hair, and is accompanied by a gilt chain of engraved links on which the miniature was worn.

According to a family note, (not included), the portrait is of "Joel White who went to New Orleans where he owned a vessel and was never heard of again…went down in a diving bell when first invented." The miniature was part of the New Jersey/Philadelphia Quaker Bassett family archive, and descended to the previous owner through the family. The White family is listed throughout the archive. Joel White was one of ten children born to William White and his second wife, Anne Paul, of Paulsboro, New Jersey, outside of Philadelphia. In The History and Genealogy of Fenwick's Colony, New Jersey, by Thomas Shourds, 1876, pages 325 to 328, it says: "John and Joel White, sons of William, settled in one of the Southern States. The family have not heard from them for a number of years." Further information on this family network is held in An Inventory of the Bassett Family Papers, 1676-1846 at the Swarthmore Friends Historical Library.

Abraham Parsell (1792-after 1856) a popular American folk miniature painter, was born in Neshanic, New Jersey on June 17, 1791, the second of six children of Oliver Parsell and Lucretia Williamson Parsell. Abraham married Mary Richards in Essex County, New Jersey, on March 23, 1819, and is recorded in New York City directories as living in Manhattan from 1820 to 1856. A John H. Parsell is also recorded at the same address, and working also as a miniaturist, and is assumed to be their son. Abraham's grave may be found at the French-Richards Burying Ground, Springfield, New Jersey. Examples of Abraham Parsell's work are in the collection of the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum and the New Jersey Historical Society. An article "Abraham Parsell: Miniature Painter" by Vincent DiCicco and Howard P. Fertig appeared in a recent issue of the magazine Antiques and Fine Art.

Dimensions: 2 ¼ x 1 15/16 inches.

Lady in Red Dress, Attributed to Eliab Metcalf, Circa 1830

An American portrait miniature of a lady with brown eyes and brown hair, wearing a red dress, against a sky background. The painting is set in a 24K gold pendant frame, with a solid reverse.

Eliab Metcalf (1785-1834), born in Franklin, Massachusetts, painted life-size oil portraits, miniatures, still lifes, and cut silhouettes. He studied in New York City with Samuel Lovett Waldo, William Jewett and John Rubens Smith, and practiced from a studio there for several years. He exhibited at the American Academy from 1819 to 1823. Metcalf suffered from ill health, and in 1819 left his wife and children in New York to travel to New Orleans upon advice from his doctor. He practiced there for 3 years, and in 1822 visited St. Thomas and St. Croix, where he remained for four years, painting portraits of governors of both island as well as many of the upper echelon, and then traveled to Puerto Rico, where he did the same. He returned briefly to his family in New York, where his health again began to fail alarmingly, and in 1824 he left for Havana. He worked in Havana for six years, painting portraits of the bishop, governor, and other citizens of distinction, including American expatriates, returning to the U.S. every summer to visit his family. He died in Havana in 1834. A miniature of John Haslett M.D. containing a trade card from Metcalf is at the Brooklyn Museum. Other miniatures and oil paintings by him may be seen at the Smithsonian Art Museum, the Gibbes Museum of Art, and the New York Historical Society. Metcalf's miniatures are scarce.

Provenance: Henry Ford Museum.

Dimensions: 3 x 2 ½ inches.

Matilda Knowles Fleming, American School, Circa 1831

A portrait miniature of a woman with green eyes and brown hair, wearing a black dress, a white scarf fastened at the neck with a brooch, and a comb in her hair, against a gray background. The painting is set in the original red leather traveling wallet case, with a blue velvet interior.

Matilda Knowles was born on October 22, 1812 in Georgia, the daughter of Richard Knowles and Lucy Cook. She married John Fleming, who was born in 1804 in South Carolina. They were wed on May 11, 1831, in Tuscaloosa County, Alabama. This portrait can be assumed to have been commissioned for that event. They had two children, Sarah Jane Fleming, born November 22, 1834, and Samuel Leroy Fleming. John died on July 3, 1857, and Matilda died on February 23, 1873. They were both buried in Skelton Cemetery, in Moundville, Alabama.

Dimensions: Image: 3 x 2 ½ inches. Frame: 3 ½ x 2 7/8 inches.

Lady in White Shawl, Attributed to Jeremiah Paul, Jr., Circa 1805

An American portrait miniature of a woman with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a white bonnet and a dark dress covered with a white shawl, against a brown background. The painting is set in a gilt pendant frame, the reverse with an aperture holding a lock of hair.

Jeremiah Paul, (?-1820) the son of a Quaker schoolmaster, was probably born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and was a portrait, miniature, figure and animal painter. He apparently studied under Charles Willson Peale and Rembrandt Peale, and was one of the founder of the Columbianum, an art academy. 1796, with several other Philadelphia artists, formed the firm of Paul, Rutter & Clarke (Jeremiah Paul, George Rutter, and William Clarke, formerly Pratt, Rutter & Co.—Matthew Pratt and George Rutter), whose aim was "to undertake all manner of commissions, from the painting of portraits, signs and fire buckets to japanning and the execution of coffin plates." During this time he also performed tasks for Gilbert Stuart, including the lettering in some of Stuart's portraits. Paul worked in Philadelphia from 1795 to 1800 and again in 1811, in Alexandria in 1802, in Charleston, South Carolina in 1803, in Baltimore from 1806 to 1808, and in Pittsburgh in 1814. He died in St. Louis in 1820. He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. Works by Jeremiah Paul are extremely scarce.

Dimensions: 3 x 2 ½ inches.

Officer in Hussar Uniform, Signed by Jean Pierre Henri Elouis, Circa 1800

A rare South American portrait miniature of an officer with brown hair and brown eyes, wearing a red Spanish Hussar regimental jacket with silver frogging and a white cravat, against a sky background. The painting is signed at the lower right: Elouis, and is set in a gold pendant frame with a solid reverse.

Jean Pierre Henri Elouis (1755-1840), was born in Caen, France, but had an international career, and is most strongly identified as an American miniaturist. He studied with Robert Lefevre before moving to London, where he attended the Royal Academy Schools. He exhibited miniatures at the Royal Academy from 1785 to 1787, when he then moved to America. There he practiced in Baltimore, Annapolis, Alexandria, and Philadelphia, where he opened a drawing school, and painted miniatures of President and Mrs. Washington. By 1799 he had left Philadelphia and traveled through Mexico and South America as a draftsman on the German scientist Baron Alexander von Humboldt's expedition, where this portrait is presumed to have been painted. Elouis moved to France in 1807, and there exhibited at the Salon de Paris. Examples of his work may be seen at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and the Cincinnati Art Museum. No other examples from his trip through South America are presently known.

Dimensions: 3 ¼ x 2 ¾ inches.

Child of the Hillhouse Family, by John Carlin, Circa 1840

A delightful American miniature of a child of the Hillhouse family, with blue eyes and blond hair, wearing a dress with a black velvet bodice and gray skirt, the collar and sleeves trimmed with white lace. The painting is set behind a gilt mat and glass in a brown leather travel wallet.

The portrait came from a relative of the Hillhouse family of New Haven, Connecticut, a prominent family in the area for several centuries. The family included Senator James Hillhouse, who also served as treasurer of Yale University, and as a real estate developer, was responsible for the design of New Haven. Hillhouse Avenue and James Hillhouse High School were named for James Hillhouse. His son James Abraham Hillhouse, a published poet, created the place and the poem "Sachem's Wood," and was one of the earliest Americans to attempt poetic drama in the manner of Shelley and Byron.

John Carlin (1813-1891), an exceptional miniaturist, as well as a portrait, genre, and landscape painter, was born deaf-mute in Philadelphia. He studied from 1821 to 1825 at the Pennsylvania Institute for the Deaf and Dumb, and then studied drawing with John Rubens Smith, and portrait painting with John Neagle. He exhibited at the Artist's Fund Society from 1835 to 1838. He subsequently spent the next few years studying at the British Museum in London, and with Paul Delaroche in Paris. Upon his return he settled in New York City, with professional forays in the years 1841 to 1856, to Pennsylvania, Connecticut, New York State, Massachusetts, Washington D.C. and Baltimore. He became a well-known society miniaturist, particularly noted for his sensitivity in depicting children.

Carlin exhibited at the National Academy of Design, the American Institute, the American Art-Union, the Maryland Historical Society and the Pennsylvania Academy. The New York Historical Society holds his account book. Carlin was also a published writer, best known for the children's book, The Scratchside Family, (NY 1861), and his poem "The Mute's Lament," which begins, "I move a silent exile on this earth." He was friends with William Cullen Bryant, Hamilton Fish, and William Henry Seward, and was often invited to appear at conferences for deaf people, becoming the first person to receive a honorary degree from Gallaudet University. He married Miss Seward, also deaf, from the family of William Henry Seward, Secretary to Abraham Lincoln, and raised five children. His works may be seen at the Smithsonian American Art Museum and The Metropolitan Museum of Art.

Dimensions: 2 ¼ x 1 ¾ inches; case: 4 x 3 ½ inches

Distinguished Gentleman, By Robert Field, Circa 1805

A striking American portrait miniature of a gentleman with brown eyes and graying blond hair, dressed in a black coat, white shirt and white cravat, against an auburn-brown background. The painting is set in a gold pendant frame with a gold ribbon surmount, the reverse with a glazed aperture holding a lock of blond hair, and a surround of foiled cobalt glass.

Robert Field (c.1769-1819), one of America’s most accomplished miniaturists, was born in England, and studied drawing and engraving at the Royal Academy in London. In 1794 he joined the flow of emigre artists drawn to the prospect of new clients in the prosperous United States. Living and practicing first in Baltimore, he then moved to Philadelphia, where he roomed with fellow painter Walter Robertson. Field spent 14 years in the United States, working additionally in New York, Boston and Washington D.C. He took portraits of George and Martha Washington and other notable citizens of the time. In 1808 Field moved to Halifax, Nova Scotia, a base for British naval operations, and 8 years later moved on to Kingston, Jamaica, another British colonial city, where he died in 1819 of yellow fever. He was buried in an unmarked grave in Kingston, in a cemetery now called "Strangers' Burial Ground." Miniatures by Robert Field may be found at the Metropolitan Museum of Art, the Smithsonian American Art Museum, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, the Yale University Art Gallery, the Philadelphia Museum of Art, and the Cincinnati Art Museum.

Dimensions: Frame: 3 ½ x 2 ¾ inches. Image: 3 x 2 ½ inches.

Girl in a Gold Necklace, Signed by Cecile E. Payen, Dated 1893

An American portrait miniature of a young girl with blue eyes and blonde hair, dressed in a lacy white dress with blue ribbons, and a gold pendant necklace, against a blue background. The painting is signed on the backing paper: "Cecile E. Payen/ 1893," and is set in the original gold brooch case with a pearl surround.

Cecile E. Payen (1862-1902 or after) was born in Dubuque, Iowa, and studied in Paris. She practiced in Chicago, and exhibited at the World's Columbian Exposition, Chicago in 1893, at the Annual Exhibition, Palette Club, AIC, in 1891 and 1895, at the Paris Salon de la Societe Nationale des Beaux-Arts in 1887, and at the L'Exhibition de Noir et Blanc, Paris in 1886 and 1887. Since this miniature is dated 1893, it’s possible it is one of the miniatures Payen exhibited at the World’s Columbian Exposition (a.k.a. the Chicago’s World Fair).

Of note is the article that Payen published in The Century magazine in 1900 of her experience in the Boxer Rebellion in Peking. Payen was a guest of Edwin. H. Conger, the U.S. Minister to China when the rebellion broke out. The Americans fled to the more sturdy British legation compound, and when the imperial Chinese troops laid siege to them, Payen and the others became famous as the "American Six," for their heroic efforts to save the legation. Payen is erroneously reported to have died in China in 1900, but in fact she painted and signed a miniature of Helen Rebecca Roosevelt, dated 1902, which is in the New York Historical Society, along with another signed miniature by Payen of Caroline Astor Drayton, dated 1900.

Dimensions: 1 ¼ inches in diameter.