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2020.304.1, Mourning Picture
Mourning Picture for Willard and Andrew Peters
2020.304.1, Mourning Picture

Mourning Picture for Willard and Andrew Peters

Dateca. 1831
Possibly by Clarissa Peters (1809 - 1854)
MediumWatercolor on paper
DimensionsOverall: 15 1/4 × 17 1/4in. (38.7 × 43.8cm)
Credit LineGift of Beatrix T. Rumford
Object number2020.304.1
DescriptionMemorial watercolor scene of a woman weeping at a central memorial pedestal topped with an urn. In the background is a waterfall, stream and a weeping willow.
Label TextWillard Peters (1802-1823) and Andrew Peters (1807-1831) were sons of John Peters (1774-1842) and Elizabeth Farrington Davis (1780-1860) of Andover, Essex Co., Massachusetts.

The picture is attributed to Clarissa Peters (1809-1854) the sister of the two boys memorialized on the monument. By 1835, Clarissa was in Boston and supporting herself by painting miniatures and giving private instruction in art. In 1839, she married fellow miniature portraitist Moses Baker Russell (1809-1884) in Providence, Rhode Island and together they had one son, Albert Cuyp Russell (1839-1917).

Clarissa Peters Russell exhibited as an artist at the Third Exhibition of the Massachusetts Charitable Mechanic Association (1841), the Boston Athenaeum (1842, 1843, 1844), and The Boston Artists Association (1842 and 1843). From 1840-1851 she shared a studio with her husband at 21 School Street in Boston.

InscribedOn the backing paper, when accessioned, were two labels. One, undated, for The Downtown Gallery includes the title "Mourning Picture - 'Willard + Andrew Perters' Mass." The other, dated May 26, 1969, is for the American Folk Art Gallery and includes information including title, medium, date, found location and inscription information. See folder for images of the labels.
ProvenanceBy 1969, Edith Halpert [1900-1970]/ American Folk Art Gallery (New York, NY); 1973, offered for sale at auction (Sotheby's Auction House, New York, NY, "The Edith G. Halpert Collection of American Paintings" March 14-15, 1973); 1973-2020, purchased by Beatrix Rumford [1939-2021] (Williamsburg, VA); 2020, given as a gift to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA).