WILLIAM LEWIS (active circa 1812-1824)

A Lady with bodice with pink lace trim wearing a gold necklace, pin and earrings, with brown curly hair held in place with a tortoiseshell and black ribbon-trimmed comb; together with a Gentleman, Thomas B. Fox, in black jacket, waistcoat, and stock, with white collar and brown curly hair, attributed to William Lewis

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WILLIAM LEWIS (active circa 1812-1824)
Lewis, William
A Lady with bodice with pink lace trim wearing a gold necklace, pin and earrings, with brown curly hair held in place with a tortoiseshell and black ribbon-trimmed comb; together with a Gentleman, Thomas B. Fox, in black jacket, waistcoat, and stock, with white collar and brown curly hair, attributed to William Lewis
signed l.r., W. Lewis Pinx and dated 1829
watercolor on ivory
2.3/8 x 1.7/8in. the first; 2 x 1in. sight, the second
the first rectangular gilt-wood deep frame with cream velvet trim; the second black-painted scroll-carved rectangular wood frame (2)

Lot Essay

A portrait miniature by William Lewis (1788-after 1838) of Louisa W. Dixon relates to the Lady with Tortoise Comb shown here in its stance and ornamentation (Johnson, Plate 18a and discussed p. 146, fig. 116).

A native of Salem, Massachusetts where he began his career as a portrait and miniature painter, Lewis relocated the majority of his painting business to Boston between 1821 and 1838. He exhibited at the Boston Athenaeum (1828) and Boston Mechanics' Association (1837).

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