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1994.300.1, Portrait
Portrait of Denny Neptune Soccabeson
1994.300.1, Portrait

Portrait of Denny Neptune Soccabeson

Date1817
Possibly by Lt. Alexander Henry Charles Villiers (d. 1847-1849)
Sitter Denny Soccabeson
OriginAmerica, Maine, Eastport
MediumWatercolor and ink on wove paper
DimensionsPrimary support: 7 13/16" x 5 3/4" and framed: 11" x 9 1/16"
Credit LineMuseum Purchase
Object number1994.300.1
DescriptionAn interior scene with a Native woman seated, her arms crossed, on a bench in front of a table set with a pitcher, two dishes (one seems to be slipping off the table), and a feather object hanging over the edge of the table. The woman is dressed in an elaborate costume including a high-crowned, decorated hat completely covering her hair. She wears a cross on a chain around her neck and large hoops in her ears. A small cradleboard supporting a bound figure is propped beside her against a table leg. A water canteen hangs from a strap to the right of the window. The scene outside the window includes two men in military dress marching towards one another; one carries a rifle on his shoulder and the other carries a sword. Two large buildings are situated beyond the marching men.

Artist unidentified.
Label TextNative American women often accompanied their husbands on trading missions, sometimes carrying on the active business of bartering on these excursions. Likely this Passamaquoddy woman came to Fort Sullivan (now part of Eastport, Maine) for such a purpose. Shown seated in one of the barracks buildings, the sitter was the daughter of Francis Joseph Neptune, hereditary leader of the Passamaquoddy who occupied nearby Point Pleasant. Her colorful traditional attire includes a conical cap and overdress with leggings; she also wears two circular silver brooches, earrings, and a pendant cross on a bead necklace. The figure strapped onto the cradleboard in front of her represents a baby, not a doll.
The town of Eastport was occupied by British troops during the War of 1812, with a garrison at Fort Sullivan. Access to the fort was strictly controlled during 1814-1818, so it is surmised that this 1817 portrait of Soccabeson was rendered by one of the British officers stationed there. Sketches of the bay and harbor executed by Lt. Alexander Henry Charles Villiers survive, making him a candidate for the portrait artist. A nineteenth-century history of the area describes Villiers as being "extremely fond of drawing."
InscribedIn ink in script in the lower margin is "Denn [missing; paper torn]n daughter of Francis Joseph--Governor of the Passamaquoddy Tribe/Eastport Sept. 18th 1817".
Upon receipt of the picture, two scraps of the New York Herald Tribune for October 20, 1931, were found behind the tertiary support and were removed, along with the backboard. (These have been photocopied, and both photocopies and originals were placed in the object folder.)
The backboard consists of a piece of gray fiberboard on which has been incised in script "Greylock Mass."
See "Marks" for several typed labels found on the object upon receipt.
A modern label on the lower right reverse corner of the frame is inscribed in ink "1224". Another modern label at upper left on the secondary backing is inscribed in ink "96" and printed in ink "6526". A third modern label on the left side of the frame is stamped in ink "96" and "6526". (Both the latter appear to be Sotheby's sale and lot no. labels). The label on the side of the frame was removed and tossed.
MarkingsOne of former owner Nina Fletcher Little's typed jelly labels on the reverse reads "Denn ... daughter of/ Francis Joseph Governor of/the Passamaquoddy Tribe./Eastport Sept. 18th, 1817". On a second such jelly label is typed "Mrs. Denny Soccabeson, a daughter of/Francis Joseph Neptune, hereditary/Governor of the Passamaquoddy Indians/of Pleasant Point, Maine. He was buried/there in 1834. Painted in the garrison/house when Eastport was occupied by/the British, 1814-1818." On a third such jelly label is typed "Owened (sic) by Nina Fletcher Little/305 Warren Street/ Brookline, Mass. 02146".
ProvenanceRockwell Gardiner, Stamford, Connecticut, 1967; purchased from the preceding by Mr. and Mrs. Bertram K. Little, Brookline, Mass; purchased by CWF at Sotheby Parke Bernt auction #6526 ("The Bertram K. Little and Nina Fletcher Little Collection") on January 29, 1994, bidding through Milly McGehee (Colwill-McGehee Antiques), Baltimore Md.