Painting

Title:

Major John Wentworth

Object Name:

Painting

Object ID:

1974.031

Creator:

Blackburn, JosephArtist

Place of Origin:

Portsmouth, NH

Date:

1759

Description:

Portrait of Major John Wentworth (1720-1759), by Joseph Blackburn (c.1730-c. 1778), c. 1759. Oil on canvas. Three-quarter length standing portrait of a man, facing slightly right; eyes toward viewer. Sitter has a white wig, brown eyes, and ruddy complexion. Wearing a brown satin coat, brown waistcoat trimmed with gold and gold braid, white cravat, and white ruffles at cuffs. Holds black tricorne hat in right hand, left hand inside waistcoat. Landscape background with twilight sky. Signed in lower left: "J. Blackburn pinxit 1759."Gilded gesso over wood frame with convex cove and low-relief foliate scroll designs; 18th-century frame.

Material:

Textile

Dimensions:

H-50 W-40 inches

Provenance:

In the 19th century, after Benning's heirs had left NH for England, a family antiquarian, Ebenezer Wentworth, acquired this portrait and the portraits of Benning (1969.030.02) and John Wentworth (1969.030.01). The portraits were then passed down from Ebenezer Wentworth to the eldest son in each generation, until inherited by the donors, who gave the paintings to the NHHS.

Benning Wentworth (1696-1770) to brother of Benning, Daniel (b. 01/05/1715), then his son George (b. 01/11/1740), then his son Ebenezer, (b. 09/4/1799), then Mark Hunking (b. 03/12/1813), then his son Charles (b. 07/20/1845), then his son Strafford (b. 08/05/1872). The donors are the three daughters of Strafford and Margaret Wentworth.

Credit Line:

Gift of Anne Wentworth Morss, Margaret Wentworth Whiting, and Constance Wentworth Dodge

People:

Blackburn, Joseph, Wentworth, John (1720-1759)

Subjects:

Wentworth, John, Portraits, Portrait paintings, Rococo