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Mrs. Starke's Brother Of Troy
Mrs. Starke's Brother Of Troy
Artist (American)

Mrs. Starke's Brother Of Troy

Datec. 1820
DimensionsSight: 27 7/8 × 18 15/16 in. (70.8 × 48.1 cm)
Object numberN0253.1961
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Gift of Stephen C. Clark
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextDepicted in a nearly full-length pose, this child holds a toy hammer in his right hand while engaging the viewer with a direct frontal gaze. The original appearance of this portrait has changed over time, as the once subtle highlights on the sitter's face, wrists and fingernails have become more pronounced by the aging and yellowing of the paper support. The resulting white patches are visually pleasing and seem to compliment the bright orange and white colored garment worn by the child. In addition to the white highlighting, this unidentified artist's style is marked by a sensitive delineation of delicate facial features, rendering the subject with unusually large eyes, a full mouth, and a closed hand which tapers toward a pointed thumb. The specific identification of this sitter remains undetermined. One other portrait has been documented as probably by this same hand. This portrait of a male child is privately owned.
BibliographyPaul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association, (Cooperstown: NYSHA, 1987), pp. 176-178, illus. As no. 114 on p. 178.

Agnes Halsey and Louis C. Jones, New-Found Folk Art of the Young Republic (exh. cat. Cooperstown, NY: NYSHA, 1960), p. 14, no. 9, ill. 9.
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5798 STATE HIGHWAY 80
COOPERSTOWN NY, 13326
607-547-1400

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