(American, 1741-1827)
Portrait of Colonel Nicholas Rogers, circa 1778, unsigned, oil on canvas, 19-1/2 x 16-1/2 in. oval; Victorian frame with oval spandrel, 25-3/4 x 22-1/2 in.
Provenance: Collection of the sitter; By descent to his son, Lloyd Nicholas Rogers and Eliza Parke Custis Law Rogers (1797-1822) (daughter of Eliza Parke Custis, and granddaughter of Martha Washington); By descent to her son, Edmund Law Rogers (1818-1896); By descent to his daughter, Charlotte Plater Rogers Smith Mustard (1868-1946); By descent to her daughter, Rosamond Flower Smith McCaw (1902-1952); By descent to her son, Robert Hazlehurst Plant McCaw, Jr. (1929-1973); by descent in the family
Frame bears multiple labels and inscriptions verso: Old paper label taped at bottom edge of stretcher verso, "Col. Nicholas Rogers / Aide-de-Camp to Genl / DuCoudray 1776 - /Next aide to Baron de / Kalb. 1778 brevetted [illegible].”"; additional paper label taped to right vertical edge of frame verso "Peale [illegible] of / Col. Nicholas Rogers”; inscribed in cursive at top of oval spandrel verso "Roger’s/ D. H. I”
Literature: Sellers, Charles Coleman. 1952. Portraits and Miniatures by Charles Willson Peale. Philadelphia: American Philosophical Society, page 185, catalogue number 753.
Sellers' entry for "Rogers, Nicholas", quotes Peale's own October 1778 diary entry for this portrait , "...Major Rogers a small whole length 140 dollars unpaid" and goes on to state that it was at some prior point cut down from the original full length to a three-quarter length to fit an oval Victorian frame, "...but with little injury to its attractiveness as a picture. In the portrait the Colonel is portrayed wearing the green sash of an aide-de-camp across his breast. Sellers also notes that this painting has been attributed to James Peale.
According to Sellers, the sitter was born into a wealthy Baltimore family in 1753. After graduating Glasgow University, he found himself in Paris when the War for Independence began. He served as aide-de-camp to General Philippe Charles du Coudray (1738-1777), a French officer who volunteered for service in the Continental Army. After du Coudray, he served General de Kalb (Johann von Robais, Baron de Kalb, 1721-1780), who was mortally wounded by opposing British forces at the Battle of Camden. (Peale would paint de Kalb posthumously in 1782). Rogers retired in 1780 with the rank of Colonel, and returned to life in Baltimore. He designed and built "Druid Hill*", the country seat of the Rogers and Buchanan families. For additional information on Druid Hill, see photos for a facsimile of the Maryland Historical Society Magazine, September 1949, article on Druid Hill by Edith Rossiter Bevan.
Provenance Note: Colonel Nicholas Rogers died in 1822. Before his death, in 1817, his son Lloyd Nicholas Rogers married Eliza Law. Eliza Law (1797-1822) is the daughter of Eliza Parke Custis (1776-1831) also known as Eliza Law who was the granddaughter of Martha Washington.
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Collection of the sitter; By descent to his son, Lloyd Nicholas Rogers and Eliza Parke Custis Law Rogers (1797-1822) (daughter of Eliza Parke Custis, and granddaughter of Martha Washington); By descent to her son, Edmund Law Rogers (1818-1896); By descent to his daughter, Charlotte Plater Rogers Smith Mustard (1868-1946); By descent to her daughter, Rosamond Flower Smith McCaw (1902-1952); By descent to her son, Robert Hazlehurst Plant McCaw, Jr. (1929-1973); by descent in the family
This lot is accompanied by a condition report created by Mt. Vernon, where the painting had been on loan for many years. See photos
Note - Brunk Auctions makes every effort to offer accurate and thorough information, but encourages prospective bidders to inspect items in person whenever possible. Condition statements are provided as a courtesy for general guidance and should not be considered complete or definitive. They do not represent a warranty or assumption of liability by Brunk Auctions. Certain condition issues may not be specifically noted in the report but may be visible in the accompanying photographs, which are considered part of the overall condition report. Please refer to our Terms of Sale for complete information and contact us for additional photos or information as needed.
