Skip to main content
BibliographyAgnes Halsey and Louis C. Jones, New-Found Folk Art of the Young Republic (exh. cat., Cooperstown, NY: NYSHA, 1960), p. 34, no 80, ill. 80.
Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, Folk Art's Many Faces; Portraits in the New York State Historical Association, (New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York 1987), pp. 162-163, illus. As no. 103 on p. 162.
Attributed to
Lyman Parks
(1782 - 1872)
Barnard Stratton
Date1822
DimensionsSight: 18 3/4 × 14 1/2 in. (47.6 × 36.8 cm)
Object numberN0252.1961
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextThe signed portrait of Barnard Stratton forms the basis for attributing seven other likenesses to an elusive artist known only as "Mr. Willson." Three of these portraits have a New Hampshire provenance. Most of the subjects are depicted in bust-length, three-quarter view, with their bodies turned to the right, against a neutral background. Facial features--the profile nose, upper eyelid and mouth--are delineated with a single line of paint. Eyelashes are individually drawn in several examples and ears are rendered as oval shapes with a heavily shadowed inner ear. The artist often highlighted faces with white watercolor, which in the portrait of Barnard Stratton has become more visible against the aged paper support. Wilson took special delight in the rhythmic qualities of contemporary hair styles as he transformed his subject's hair into sweeping lines and repetitive curls. He also paid close attention to costume detail, particularly the men's patterned vests, ruffled shirts and bow-tied cravats. Most sitters hold no props, although two are depicted with books, one holds a flower, another a key. Hands, when shown, are drawn stiffly and with stubby fingers. Barnard Stratton's likeness is the only instance where the artist added decorative corner blocks, and inscribed the subject's name along the upper margin of the paper.
Barnard Stratton was born on August 25, 1796, the son of Jonas and Anna Barnard Stratton. On August 18, 1819, the sitter, then of Orange, Massachusetts, married Charlotte Boutelle of Amherst, New Hampshire. They settled in Amherst, and raised two children, Levi and Martha.
BibliographyAgnes Halsey and Louis C. Jones, New-Found Folk Art of the Young Republic (exh. cat., Cooperstown, NY: NYSHA, 1960), p. 34, no 80, ill. 80.
Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, Folk Art's Many Faces; Portraits in the New York State Historical Association, (New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown, New York 1987), pp. 162-163, illus. As no. 103 on p. 162.
On View
Not on view
