John Quidor (American, 1801-1881) Full Length Portrait of a Lady

Description:

John Quidor (American, 1801-1881)

Full Length Portrait of a Lady
Signed and dated "JOHN QUIDOR 1863" l.c.
Oil on canvas, 27 x 23 in. (68.6 x 58.4 cm),framed.
Condition: Lined, retouch, craquelure, surface grime.

Provenance: Purchased from Robert Vose, Boston, Massachusetts, 1965.



N.B. Regarding the work presented here, David B, Dearinger writes, "After training with John Wesley Jarvis in New York City, John Quidor began painting literary subjects, a genre for which he became best known...Portrait of a Lady, which is dated 1863, is a rare late work by Quidor: he painted few works after 1860 and the last known dated canvas by him if from 1867. Although the painting's specific subject has been lost, it is almost certainly not a portrait. Instead, its subject is undoubtedly a literary one, possibly taken from Shakespeare or some unidentified early Victorian novel, story, or play. Indeed, the elegant, rather regal dress and cape that the woman wears are probably parts of a theatrical costume and the setting appears to have the trappings of a stage...The slightly eccentric figure-style seen in Portrait of a Lady, as well as the drama and even humor implied by the subject's body language and, especially, her facial expression, are vintage Quidor. Her rather sharp features, emphasized by being in profile, is typical of the artist, as is the immediacy of his subject's slightly bemused expression: she is evidently turning quickly and appears to be reacting with some haste and surprise to something that someone, located off-stage right, has just said or done.


As Quidor approached his retirement from the art world in 1869, he rarely exhibited his paintings. His work had been included in a handful of shows at the National Academy of Design in the late 1820s and late 1830s and a few annual exhibitions at the American Academy of Fine Arts and the Apollo Association in New York in the 1830s. But that was about it. It is not surprising, then, that, as far as is known, the so-called Portrait of a Lady was not exhibited during Quidor's lifetime and, more likely than not, remained in private hands throughout the 19th and for most of the 20th centuries. Given its presumed subject, it may have been commissioned by or at least owned by someone who worked in the theatre, probably in New York City."


We would like to thank David B. Dearinger for his kind assistance in cataloging this work.
Estimate $2,000-4,000


The absence of a condition statement does not imply that the lot is in perfect condition or completely free from wear and tear, imperfections or the effects of aging. Condition requests can be obtained via email (lot inquiry button) or by telephone to the appropriate gallery location (Boston/617.350.5400 or Marlborough/508.970.3000). Any condition statement given, as a courtesy to a client, is only an opinion and should not be treated as a statement of fact. Skinner Inc. shall have no responsibility for any error or omission.

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