Portrait of Master Sidney Rainor

Dateca. 1815

MediumWatercolor on wove paper

DimensionsPrimary Support: 5 1/8 x 3 15/16in. (13 x 10cm) and Framed: 7 1/4 x 5 7/8 x 1in.

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1958.300.13

DescriptionA half-length, full-face portrait of a boy turned slightly to the viewer's left. He wears a double-breasted black coat with yellow buttons and wide lapels, a white ruffled shirt, a black ribbon tie, and a light-brown striped waistcoat. He has blue eyes and brown hair swept back from his face. The background is uncolored 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 1/8-inch molded walnut frame with a brass liner is probably a period replacement.
Label TextThe Folk Art Museum also owns a portrait of Phillip Rainor (accession number 1958.300.10) 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.
MarkingsNo watermark found.
ProvenanceJ. Sturat 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.