Painting

Title:

Susanna West Sweetser

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1947.001.02

Creator:

Pierce, Moses (c. 1783- c.1851)Artist

Place of Origin:

Portsmouth, NH

Date:

1819

Description:

Portrait of Susanna Sweetser (1786-1861), by Moses Pierce (c. 1783- c.1851), 1819. Oil on canvas on masonite. Half-length portrait of a woman, facing slightly left. Sitter has brown hair with side curls and blue eyes. She is wearing a black headdress, gold drop earrings, layered lace collar, black Empire Style dress, and two gold circular pins or clasps on belt. Seated on red sofa. Brown background. Inscription in black paint on canvas reverse: " Pierce painter / 1819". Gilded gesso over wood frame with corner shells surrounded with c-scrolls and foliate designs.

Material:

Textile
Canvas
Masonite

Dimensions:

H-22.4 W-19.5 inches

Provenance:

Henry Sweetser (1768-1847) married to Susanna West (1786-1861) of Concord, NH. Inherited by their daughter Clarissa West Sweetser, who married Jay Benton. The portraits passed from their daughter Martha Jane Benton to the donor, Helen M. Tolman (Mrs. Gilbert).

Credit Line:

Gift of Helen M. Tolman

People:

Sweetser, Susanna (1786-1861), Pierce, Moses (c. 1783-c. 1851)

Subjects:

Sweetser, Susanna West, Portrait paintings, Portraits, Clothing & dress