THEOREM PAINTING WITH FOOTED BLUE COMPOTE

Distinguished by its molded blue glass compote, this watercolor theorem is among a small group of works that appear to be based on the same print source. Two of these are on velvet, like the present example, and all may have been executed by the same hand (Sotheby Parke Bernet, 20-23 June 1979, lot 1046; Northeast Auctions, 2 August 2008, lot 1009). While there are very slight differences in composition, the rendering of the fruit is remarkably similar on all three theorems. It is possible that they were made by different students under the same tutelage, but details seen on all three, such as the strawberries’ cap-like leafy bases, the regular spacing of the berries and the black detailing on the pineapple suggest they were all made by the same artist. As indicated by a note on the back of the example that sold in 2008, this artist may have been Hannah Day (1812-1896) of Springfield, Massachusetts. The daughter of Captain Hosea Day (1779-1860) and Hannah Day (1777-1813), Hannah remained single and as evidenced by the bequests in her will, had substantial means. She lived her entire life in the same home, a house in the Ashleyville neighborhood of West Springfield and her obituary notes that she was “well educated, and had a positive opinion on most of the subjects discussed in her day” (Probate Records, 1814-1929 (Hampden County, Massachusetts), case no. 21163, available at ancestry.com; Springfield Republican, September 14, 1896, p. 6). A watercolor on paper work at Colonial Williamsburg shares a similar composition but differs significantly in the execution of the motifs (Colonial Williamsburg, acc. no. 1933.303.4).