A PAIR OF PORTRAITS: A WOMAN IN A WHITE SHAWL AND A GENTLEMAN WEARING GRAY GLOVES

With piercing gazes, prominent brows and stern expressions this pair of striking portraits exhibits classic trademarks of artist Sheldon Peck. Peck was an itinerant folk painter who lived in Vermont, New York State and Illinois. While Peck did not sign his work, these pieces exhibit his signature “rabbit paw” trio of brush strokes, which are used as embellishment on the man’s chair and the woman’s shawl. This design is similar to motifs used to decorate objects including furniture and tinware, so it is likely that Peck did ornamental painting as well. The bright colors, swags of drapery and fancy painted furniture point to these works being from Peck’s New York period, and this pair is especially elaborate with the landscape backgrounds. During this transitional period in the artist’s development, he often painted half-length portraits on panel like the present examples. For further information and related examples see Marianne E. Balazs, "Sheldon Peck," The Magazine Antiques (August 1975), pp. 273-284.