Premier Auction - Session II
Sat, Mar 26, 2022 09:00AM EDT
Lot 913
18th Century British or American School Portrait
Estimate: $8,000 - $12,000
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $25 |
| $100 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $2,000 | $200 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $20,000 | $2,000 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
A Lady said to be Juliana Fermor Penn, unsigned, oil on canvas, 30-1/8 x 25 in.; 18th century gilt wood frame, 36-3/8 x 32 in.
Note: A label verso indicates this work was exhibited as Juliana Penn by Frances Cotes possibly during the time Sir Charles Holmes was Director of either the National Portrait Gallery or the National Gallery, London. Neither the painting nor the sitter is represented in Edward Mead Johnson, Francis Cotes. A portrait in pastel by artist Katherine Read of Juliana Penn and noted as having descended in the Penn family, was sold by Philip Mould. This pastel presents an intriguing pose and semblance to this portrait. Another portrait of Penn was executed by Katherine Read and was engraved by Robert Pranker circa 1750-1775, which possibly supports confirmation of the sitter, as does the portrait of Juliana Penn by Devis that is now in the Philadelphia Museum of Art (see: https://www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/99954).
In 1763, Juliana Penn made a donation of books and globes to the recently founded library in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. It was renamed The Juliana Library Company in her honor.
Literature: Helmut Von Erffa & Allen Staley, The Paintings of Benjamin West, 1986, No.682, pp.542-3. The provenance is listed as ?Artist's estate at his death and sold by his sons through George Robins, London, June 20-22, 1829, lot 173 (second sale).
References to portraits of Julianna Penn: http://www.historicalportraits.com/Gallery.asp?Page=Item&ItemID=1024&Desc=Lady-Juliana-Penn-%7C-Katherine-Read https://www.npg.org.uk/collections/search/portrait/mw68862/Juliana-Baker-ne-Penn?LinkID=mp16511&role=art&rNo=0 https://www.philamuseum.org/collection/object/99954 https://www.britishmuseum.org/collection/object/P_2010-7081-5026
Provenance: Presumed Mrs. George Leach, North Carolina (label verso) Private Collection, Hickory, North Carolina
Condition
lined, abrasion with void and indentations, crackle, craquelure, small points of retouch under chin and on sleeve, uneven varnish under UV light.; frame with minor wear, small losses
