Portrait of Phillip Rainor

Dateca. 1815

MediumWatercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 7 1/16 x 5 3/8in. (17.9 x 13.7cm) and Framed: 8 7/16 x 6 7/8 x 15/16in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1958.300.10

DescriptionA half-length, full-face portrait of a man turned slightly towards the viewer's left. He wears a black, double-breasted coat with yellow buttons and wide lapels, a white vest edged in black, a white neck cloth and ruffled shirt, and a black and gold stick-pin. His arms hang down, and his hands are not included in the composition. The background is unpainted except for light orange-brown shading lines at the bottom to either side of the figure. The shading and the shaped lower edge of the figure confirm the originality of the oval format.
The 1-inch convex-molded oval gilt frame is a period replacement.
Label TextThe Folk Art Museum also owns a portrait of Master Sidney Rainor (accession number 1958.300.13) that is attributed to the same artist. The identities of both subjects are based on a previous owner's records and have not been verified. There is, however, a resemblance between these portraits and the full-scale works in oil created by Ammi Phillips, particularly in the treatment and rendering of the stock and tie area of the costumes. Few attempts to isolate miniatures by Phillips have been made, and future studies may result in affirming or refuting this speculation.
MarkingsA typed label affixed to the back of the painting when it was acquired (but that is now missing) read: "Supposed to be the portrait of Sir Langhorn Burton Rainor, first Sherriff of New York City after it received its charter". Also see "Curatorial Remarks."
The watermark in the primary support, "T STAIN[S]," was used by Thomas Stains, Foots Cray Mill, Kent, England, from 1796 until after 1803, per Thomas L. Gravell to AARFAM, June 22, 1978.
ProvenanceJ. 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 AARFAM's vendor.