SIZE
approx 4 x 3” (sight)

DESCRIPTION
Identified as “Gramma Clark taken as a young girl 16 years old.” This is an Interesting example of Justus Dalee family work with probative value.

The seminal reference on Dalee is by Payne and Payne “To Please the Eye” in the Journal Folk Art , Winter 2004/5. Justus Dalee, son Amon, and brother Richard were running a cottage industry in miniature portrait production through the mid 1830s and 40s. The evidence that this example was the product of more than one hand is indicated by the cursive inscription on the back giving directions on dress, lewelry, and accessory colors.

Also note the Rev. Morse provenance. Morse (1870-1950) was a member of the American antiquarian Society and a trustee for SPNEA as well as pioneer collector of early folk art who was reputed to have assembled the world’s largest collection of “silhouettes.”

As with Dalee family portraits facial details were done in pencil; the dress is high-lighted with gum arabic glaze. Payne and Payne noted that “small details were always so finely rendered that they invite examination with a magnifying glass. Look carefully and you will see the use of tiny cutout pastiches to delineate the belt buckle and a button at the top of the dress. The little hand with red book might also be a pastiche and is reminiscent of the work of a silhouette maker known only as “the red book artist.” Many of those examples are comprised of hollow cut silhouette heads atop water-colored rendered slope shouldered necks and torsos, with a tiny little hand holding a tiny red book. Further research is warranted on this subject.

CONDITION
What looks like foxing around the dress is possibly gum arabic residue. Otherwise good condition including original frame, glass, Bristol board backing, and nails. Please see photos.

(Please call shop for questions or in-hand condition report)

SOLD

Shipping: $10

There’s no sales tax for items shipped outside Missouri