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Documented Early Folk Portrait of Mary Allen

Offered by: David A. Schorsch - Eileen M. Smiles Fine Americana

Description
Documented early folk portrait of Mary Allen.
ATTRIBUTED TO MR. THOMPSON.
Hightstown, New Jersey, dated 1816.

In Folk Art’s Many Faces, Portraits in the New York State Historical Association, author Paul D’Ambrosio discussed the folk watercolorist identified as “Mr. Thompson” on page 146: “The twelve extant portraits by this hand have been attributed to an artist known only as “Mr. Thompson” –an attribution based on a fragmentary inscription on one of the portraits. These portraits range in date from 1814 to 1819, and nine of them depict members of families from Schrallenburgh, Polifly, and other Dutch settlements near present day Hackensack, New Jersey.

Inscribed in ink at lower center in a combination of striped block land script lettering: “MARY ALLEN.” / “Born January 1, 1765, Aged 51 Years.” The sitter in this portrait was born Mary Forman on January 1, 1765 in Middlesex County, New Jersey, the daughter of Andrew Forman. She married Thomas Allen (1763-1855) of Middlesex County, New Jersey about 1785, and the couple resided in Hightstown, New Jersey, where they produced four children: Keziah, Margaret, Sarah and Enos or Enoch. Mary Allen appears in the 1850 census, with her husband and adult son (age 51) and his extended family. She died in June of 1854.

More Information

Origin:	United States, New Jersey
Period:	19th Century
Materials:	Watercolor and ink on paperboard.
Condition:	Excellent. In a period mahogany and satinwood veneered frame.
Styles / Movements:	Folk Art
Incollect Reference #:	106333

Dimensions

W.	8 in;	H.	10 in;
W.	20.32 cm;	H.	25.4 cm;

Message from Seller:

David A. Schorsch and Eileen M. Smiles American Antiques is one of the world’s leading dealers and authorities in the field of American antiques and folk art, specializing in weathervanes, folk paintings, folk sculpture, formal and country furniture and Shaker design.

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