(New Jersey/Ohio, 1857-1950) Portrait of a Seated Woman, signed lower left "John Bentz", oil on canvas on paperboard, 19-1/2 x 12-1/4 in.; original gilt wood liner, slight lifting, pencil mark at center, light abrasions; liner with abrasions. Notes: "John was an artist, portrait painter, etcher, photographer and teacher. He was widely known throughout the U.S. as a restorer of Old Master paintings. His first professional work was done in Columbus, in the photographic gallery of the late J.M. Elliott and L.M. Baker. He studied at the Columbus Art School, the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and New York Art Students League and was hired by the New York Art Commission on Jan 20, 1946 to clean paintings in City Hall. He worked on John Trumbull's 1790 famous portrait of George Washington with castor oil. John also restored paintings by Benjamin West, Samuel F.B. Morse, Rembrandt, Goya, Sargent and Van Dyck. He created numerous portraits of Vanderbilts, Goulds, Morgans and Fahnestocks". (Biography in part by the artist's great-niece, Sheila Nocks). Provenance: Private Collection slight lifting, pencil mark at center, light abrasions; liner with abrasions