Portrait of John Armistead Carter (1808-1897)
Date1840 (probably)
MediumOil on canvas
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number2018.100.2,A&B
DescriptionPortrait of a man wearing all black with a high black stock. He is seated in an upholstered red chair before a grey-brown background.Label TextBorn in 1808 at Sabine Hall to Landon Carter II and Mary B. Armistead Carter, John Armistead studied law with St. George Tucker in Winchester, VA before moving to Loudoun County. In 1834, he married Richardetta Delaney DeButts, the daughter of Richard Welby DeButts and Louisa French Delaney. In 1841 John and Richardetta purchased a property called Crednal in Middleburg from her parents. The house was originally purchased by the DeButts in 1814 and enlarged probably soon after. After John's dealth in 1897 the house descended to his son, Richard Welby Carter, who married Sophie DeButts Carter, a cousin.
This portrait by an unidentified artist was likely painted in the Middleburg area of Loudoun County, Virginia. Family history records this portrait and a pendant portrait depicting John’s wife, Richardetta, which does not survive, hanging at the family’s home of Crednal until 1945 when the home was sold out of the family. After the sale of Crednal, John’s portrait and a portrait of John’s mother, Mary Armistead Carter, remained in the family until they were purchased by Colonial Williamsburg.
ProvenanceThis portrait and that of the sitter's mother (2018-155) likely hung at Crednal in Middleburg during the sitter's lifetime. After John's death both the house and the paintings descended through the family, first to his son, Richard Welby Carter; to his daughter, Fannie Carter Marshall who died in 1945 at which time the house was sold but the portraits remained in the family until they were sold to Colonial Williamsburg.
ca. 1825
ca. 1820
ca. 1835
ca. 1830