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Portrait of Dr. Levi Bartlett (1763-1828)
No number on slide

Portrait of Dr. Levi Bartlett (1763-1828)

Date1821
Artist John Brewster, Jr. (1766 - 1854)
OriginAmerica, New Hampshire, Kingston
MediumOil on canvas, framed
DimensionsUnframed: 30 x 24 13/16in. (76.2 x 63cm) and Framed: 32 1/16 x 26 15/16in.
Credit LineGift of Mr. and Mrs. Irvin G. Schorsch, Jr.
Object number1981.100.1
DescriptionA half-length portrait of a man turned slightly to the left. His proper right hand is tucked inside his dark blue waistcoat, the other hangs down out of the picture. He wears a dark blue coat with self-covered buttons, M-notched collar, and high rolled neck, a white stock tied in a bow in front above a white pleated shirt. He is bald on top, with straight, straw-colored hair trimmed close in front of his ears and hanging collar length in back. The planes of his face are exceptionally sculpturally delineated. He has florid cheeks, gray eyes, and a heavy, jowly face with (perhaps) a tumorous growth on his dimpled chin. The background is a warm brown with highlighting surrounding the lower head, neck, and shoulders.
The lower stretcher has been microscopically analyzed as one of the white pine group, probably eastern white pine (Pinus strobus).
The original 1-inch cove molded gilded frame has two brass hanging rings at the top. The top frame member has been microscopically analyzed as yellow poplar (Liriodendron tulipifera).
Label TextThe sensitive, half-length likenesses of Doctor and Mrs. Levi Bartlett (see acc. no. 1981.100.2) are typical of the later work of the deaf portraitist, John Brewster, Jr. After 1805 Brewster largely abandoned large-scale compositions and concentrated instead on bust- or half-length figures such as these, often --- as in both these instances --- leaving full penciled inscriptions on the paintings' stretchers.

Levi Bartlett was the son of Josiah Bartlett, a physician and the first Governor of New Hampshire as well as a signer of the Declaration of Independence. Levi succeeded his father in the practice of medicine, as did his own son, Levi S. (1811-1865), after him. Abigail Stevens was born in Kingston and became Levi Bartlett's second wife on April 18, 1807. Brewster also painted likenesses of Levi S. and his sisters, Louella Juliette Bartlett (1807-1857) and Junia Loretta Bartlett (1810-1849); as last noted, these three children's portraits were in private collections.
InscribedIn pencil in script across the upper stretcher and the top of the right stretcher is: "J Brewster Jr pinxt June 1st 1821."

In ink in Nina Fletcher Little's hand on a modern label on the lower portion of the right stretcher is: "Levi Bartlett/Kingston, N. H./Born Sept. 29--1763/son of Josiah/(signer) 1821," and typed on another modern label on the top frame member is: "Please do not remove old rings." A red painted accession no. ("75.46.1") appears on the top stretcher.
ProvenanceThis portrait and its companion, 1981.100.2, descended to a great-granddaughter of the subjects, Mrs. Lottie M. Goodrich (nee Bartlett) of Epping, N. H., along with Brewster portraits of the subjects' two children, Junia Loretta Bartlett (1810-1849) and Levi Stevens Bartlett (1811-1865). James Wilcoxen of Henniker, N. H., purchased 1981.100.1 and 1981.100.2 from Mrs. Goodrich. Mary Allis of Southport, Conn., purchased the pair from Mr. Wilcoxen. In 1959, Nina Fletcher Little of Brookline, Mass., purchased the pair from Mary Allis. In 1975, Nina Fletcher Little sold the pair to Roger Bacon of Exeter, N. H. (Nina Fletcher Little to B. Luck, 1/4/1982). As of 5/30/2006, it is not known whether CWF's donors, M/M Irvin G. Schorsch, Jr., purchased the pair directly from Roger Bacon.