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Lot Essay
John Lyon Gardiner (1770- 1816) became the 7th Proprietor of Gardiner's Island following the death of his father David in 1774. He attended Princeton and continued the family tradition of pursuing both business and intellectual pursuits (see the introductory essay). A keen naturalist, he again followed family tradition and made Gardiner's Island his home. He married Sarah Griswold (1781-1863) of Lyme, Connecticut, March 4, 1803.
The original portraits of John and Sarah by Samuel Waldo may have been painted at the time of, or shortly after, their marriage as Waldo was then practicing his art in Hartford, Connecticut and shortly thereafter in Litchfield. Fortunately, the Gardiner family commissioned Daniel Huntington to copy the Waldo portraits in the late 19th century since the originals were destroyed in the Manor House fire on Gardiner's Island in 1947.
The original portraits of John and Sarah by Samuel Waldo may have been painted at the time of, or shortly after, their marriage as Waldo was then practicing his art in Hartford, Connecticut and shortly thereafter in Litchfield. Fortunately, the Gardiner family commissioned Daniel Huntington to copy the Waldo portraits in the late 19th century since the originals were destroyed in the Manor House fire on Gardiner's Island in 1947.