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Portrait 1958.100.28
Portrait of William G. Harder (?-?)
Portrait 1958.100.28

Portrait of William G. Harder (?-?)

Date1820-1825 (probably)
Attributed to Ammi Phillips (1788-1865)
OriginAmerica, New York, Columbia County, Ghent
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsUnframed: 30 9/16 x 24 3/4in. (77.6 x 62.9cm) and Framed: 36 5/16 x 30 1/4in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1958.100.28
DescriptionHalf-length portrait of a man, turned 1/4 to the viewer's left, seated in a bamboo-turned armchair that is painted a pinkish yellow. The background is violet with tones of pale blue. The man wears a black coat and black waistcoat. the latter buttoned up, and a white stock and shirt. He has a pink fleshy face, double chin, drooping mouthline, brown eyes, and fine white wispy hair that flows over his ears. In his proper left hand he holds a letter that bears an inscription and red seals.
The 3 1/2-inch scoop-molded, splayed frame is painted black with a gold liner and is a modern replacement.
Label TextPhillips painted this portrait and its companion, of the sitter's wife, some five to ten years after portraying Paulina Dorr of nearby Chatham Center, the young girl who ‚ eventually became their daughter-in-law by marrying Martin Harder on October 14, 1828. Comparison between Paulina's likeness and those of her parents-in-law reveals many of the interesting changes that occurred in the artist's style in the interval separating the commissions. Notable are the adjustments made in the proportions of figure to canvas size, in the linear arrangements of the sitters' poses, and in the subtlety of facial modeling.
The inscription on the letter in this portrait gives the sitter's name. It also helps narrow the possible range of the portrait's date of execution, for in 1818, the name of the Columbia County town of Squampamock was changed to Ghent.
Little is known about the Harders. William died intestate leaving an estate valued at $10,000, a considerable sum.
InscribedPainted on the letter in the sitter's hand are: "Mr. William Harder/Ghent," an "Albany" postmark, and "10" (signifying postage). Also see "Notes."
ProvenanceFrom the subject to his daughter-in-law's sister and brother-in-law, Rev. Nathaniel Goodell Spalding and Harriet Dorr Spalding, Schodack Landing, NY; to their son and daughter-in-law, Nathaniel Bull Spalding and Cora Boyce Spalding, Schenectady and Schodack Landing, NY; about 1925, bought by J. Stuart Halladay and Herrel George Thomas, Sheffield, Mass. Halladay died in 1951, leaving his interest in their jointly-owned collection to his partner, Thomas. Thomas died in 1957, leaving his estate to his sister, Mrs. Albert N. Petterson, who was AARFAC's vendor.