Profile Portrait of a Young Woman

Dateca. 1840

Attributed to Da Lee Family (active ca. 1835-1847)

MediumWatercolor, pencil, and ink on wove paper

DimensionsOther (Primary Support): 3 11/16 x 2 3/16in. (9.4 x 5.6cm) Framed: 4 7/8 x 3 7/8 x 3/4in. (12.4 x 9.8 x 1.9cm)

Credit LineMuseum Purchase

Object number1958.300.23

DescriptionA bust-length portrait of a young woman, her body facing the viewer, her head in profile to the left. The image is set within black-painted spandrels, with light blue watercolor along the inside perimeter of the spandrels. Her dark brown hair is bound by two black cords or ribbons, caught up at the back of her head, and dipped down over her near temple to drop two long curls that fall below her chin. She wears a dark dress with a white collar; a paisley shawl is pulled around her shoulders and knotted at the front. A small square brooch, placed on the diagonal, appears on her dress above the knot of her shawl.

The 3/4-inch gilded and molded frame is original.
Label TextThis crisp profile was formerly ascribed to Justus Da Lee (1793-1878) alone. Reattribution to the Da Lee family has come with the discovery that much of Justus's career involved working collaboratively with his brother Richard W. M. Da Lee (1809-1868) and with his son, Amon G. J. Da Lee (1820-1879). Richard and Amon also worked independently of Justus but in such similar styles that usually it is impossible to distinguish the work of the three men unless the work is signed.

Justus Da Lee aptly billed himself as a "side portrait painter," meaning a profilist. He, Richard, and Amon all preferred this pose. The use of black spandrels is also typical of the three.
MarkingsNone found.
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.