James N. Olney, facing left in grey coat, white waistcoat and black stock, gold watch chain, curly brown hair and sideburns

Details

MARIETTA THOMPSON (1803 - after 1835)
James N. Olney, facing left in grey coat, white waistcoat and black stock, gold watch chain, curly brown hair and sideburns
inscribed, signed and dated on the backing-paper 'Providence R I U.S. North America James N. Olney Aet. 22. Painted by Marietta Tintoretto Catharina Francesca Vanthiellen Thompson. Aug.^. 20^.^.. 1829.'
oval, 2 7/8 in. (73 mm.) high, silver-gilt frame with die-stamped border and off-centre glazed hair compartment

Lot Essay

The miniaturist Marietta Thompson was the daughter of the artist Cephas and sister of the painters Cephas Giacomo and Jerome B. Thompson. She was born in Middleboro (Mass.) on 27 February 1803. Their artistic leanings discouraged by their father, Marietta and Jerome left home in the early 1830s and, after working a short time in Barnstable (Mass.), settled in New York City in 1835. Miniatures by Marietta's hand are extremely rare.

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