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Lot Essay
This striking portrait of Elizabeth Denison (Barber) Smith (1804-1833) is a wonderful example by itinerant portraitist Zedekiah Belknap (1781-1858). Belknap was born in Massachusetts and raised on a farm in Vermont before studying divinity at Dartmouth College from which he graduated in 1807. His short-lived career as a preacher ended when he dedicated himself to painting which took him across Vermont, New Hampshire and Massachusetts as he traveled on commission.
The present portrait is superlative exemplary of Belknap. His attention to detail is evident in the rendering of Elizabeth’s lace collar and its translucency, the cluster of small pearls hanging from her exposed ear, and the decorative buckle cinching the belt of her dress. Another trademark of Belknap is his use of bright colors, seen here in Elizabeth’s vibrant yellow shawl that envelops her. The artist also depicted his sitters with prominent facial features that make a strong visual impact. Elizabeth's large eyes and mouth are centered by a nose in profile and outlined in a dark brown-red shadow, yet another feature commonly found in Belknap’s works. In combination, the noted elements allow Belknap to create an effective and captivating portrait that would have emphasized the sitter’s affluent status.
The daughter of Captain Thomas Barber (1776-1807) and Mary (Kibbe) Barber (1782-1858), Elizabeth married Gilbert Avery Smith (1796-1869) in Groton on June 8, 1823. At the time of their marriage, he was noted to be a merchant in Springfield, Massachusetts and as the inscription on the reverse indicates, the couple moved nearby to South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she gave birth to four children. She died at the age of 29 on July 16, 1833 and is buried in South Hadley's Evergreen Cemetery (Boston Daily Advertiser, 3 July 1823, p. 2; findagrave.com).
The present portrait is superlative exemplary of Belknap. His attention to detail is evident in the rendering of Elizabeth’s lace collar and its translucency, the cluster of small pearls hanging from her exposed ear, and the decorative buckle cinching the belt of her dress. Another trademark of Belknap is his use of bright colors, seen here in Elizabeth’s vibrant yellow shawl that envelops her. The artist also depicted his sitters with prominent facial features that make a strong visual impact. Elizabeth's large eyes and mouth are centered by a nose in profile and outlined in a dark brown-red shadow, yet another feature commonly found in Belknap’s works. In combination, the noted elements allow Belknap to create an effective and captivating portrait that would have emphasized the sitter’s affluent status.
The daughter of Captain Thomas Barber (1776-1807) and Mary (Kibbe) Barber (1782-1858), Elizabeth married Gilbert Avery Smith (1796-1869) in Groton on June 8, 1823. At the time of their marriage, he was noted to be a merchant in Springfield, Massachusetts and as the inscription on the reverse indicates, the couple moved nearby to South Hadley, Massachusetts, where she gave birth to four children. She died at the age of 29 on July 16, 1833 and is buried in South Hadley's Evergreen Cemetery (Boston Daily Advertiser, 3 July 1823, p. 2; findagrave.com).