Menu
EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBWilliam Russell Birch (Pennsylvania/England, 1755-1834) Portrait Miniature of General George Washington
Lot 231
About Seller
Bonhams Skinner
274 Cedar Hill Street
Marlborough, MA 01752
United States
Founded over four decades ago, Bonhams Skinner offers more than 60 auctions annually. Bonhams Skinner auctions reach an international audience and showcase the unique, rare, and beautiful in dozens of categories, including the fine and decorative arts, jewelry, modern design, musical instruments, sc...Read more
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Estimate:
$15,000 - $25,000
Absentee vs Live bid
Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
| $300,000 | $25,000 |
| $500,000 | $50,000 |
| $1,000,000 | $100,000 |
About Auction
Live
By Bonhams Skinner
Nov 3, 2018
Set Reminder
2018-11-03 10:00:00
2018-11-03 10:00:00
America/New_York
Bidsquare
Bidsquare : American Furniture & Decorative Arts
https://www.bidsquare.com/auctions/skinner/american-furniture-decorative-arts-3543
Fast on the heels of the department’s successful August Americana auction, the Boston auction will feature 18th & 19th century formal and country furnishings, folk art, portraiture, marine art, textiles, early pottery, glass and metalwork. Bonhams Skinner bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com
Fast on the heels of the department’s successful August Americana auction, the Boston auction will feature 18th & 19th century formal and country furnishings, folk art, portraiture, marine art, textiles, early pottery, glass and metalwork. Bonhams Skinner bidsquare@bonhamsskinner.com
View Full Catalog (395)
- Lot Description
William Russell Birch (Pennsylvania/England, 1755-1834)
Portrait Miniature of General George Washington
Signed in initialed and dated "W.B./1797" l.r., inscribed "Gen'l Washington/America" on the reverse.
Enamel on copper, 2 1/4 x 1 3/4 in., oval, in original pressed brass and molded hardwood frame.
Condition: Minor scratches.
Provenance: According to the consignor, the miniature "had been in a French family for many generations. The family dates it to Albert Malle, who was the maternal grandfather of the man who sold it. M. Malle was a French industrialist. The family thinks it might have been acquired by M. Malle from Alice Tully, with whom Malle shared a love of music and "liaison intellectuelle et artistique". For several years, Alice Tully lived in the same building as M. Malle in Paris. The family confirms that this is the same Alice Tully who was the granddaughter of Amory Houghton, heiress to the Corning Glass fortune, and New York philanthropist."
Note: William Birch was a celebrated enamellist, painter, and engraver. He was born in Warwickshire, England, on April 19, 1755. He learned the basics of enameling as an apprentice to London goldsmith Thomas Jeffrey and later under Henry Spicer, and exhibited enameled miniatures at the Royal Academy and the Society of Artists. In 1794 Birch and his family immigrated to Philadelphia and he soon began producing works in enamel, the first to introduce enamel painting in America, for which he received wide acclaim. He made landscapes, copies of Old Master paintings, and portrait miniatures. His most notable enamel portraits were the approximately sixty portrait miniatures of George Washington, after a portrait done of Washington by Gilbert Stuart for John Vaughan.
The miniature, painted at the tail end of Washington's presidency was likely intended to portray Washington in military uniform as Commander in Chief. It appears to have been inspired by paintings of Washington by Gilbert Stuart as well as works by Charles Wilson Peale depicting Washington in his revolutionary war uniform. The pose and hairstyle is most similar to Stuart's works. The uniform in which Washington is depicted, while blue and buff like his service uniform and includes the blue sash worn across his breast beneath his coat, has stylistic characteristics such as the high neck collar that do not appear on military clothing until the late 1790s. The depiction of the sash in the miniature is very reminiscent of Peale's images of Washington painted c. 1780. Portraits by Peale and Stuart were very popular and circulated widely as printed works and were likely know by Birch and closely study as he developed this composition.
Estimate $15,000-25,000
The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission. - Shipping Info
-
Please visit http://www.skinnerinc.com/services/payment-and-shipping/ for information regarding the collection of items purchased at auction.
-
- Buyer's Premium
