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DS1998-0094
Portrait of Royal Diman (1768-1820)
DS1998-0094

Portrait of Royal Diman (1768-1820)

Date1816
Artist Cephas Thompson (1775-1856)
OriginAmerica, Rhode Island, Bristol
MediumOil on wood panel
DimensionsUnframed: 30 x 24 13/16in. (76.2 x 63cm) and Framed: 36 7/16 x 31 3/8 x 3in. (92.6 x 79.7 x 3cm)
Credit LineGift of William A. Diman
Object number1997-118,A&B
DescriptionA half-length depiction of an elderly man seated sideways in a scroll-back chair and turned three-quarters to the viewer's right; he gazes into the distance, his head aligned with his body. The subject's proper right arm rests on the back of the chair, and the fingers of his hands are interlocked. He wears a black coat, white waistcoat, high-collared white shirt with pleated ruffles, and a white bow-tied stock. He has blue eyes and brown hair that is graying at the sides. The background is darkly painted and includes no allusions to a setting.

The 3 1/2-inch gilded frame is believed original. The outer cove molding is ornamented with laurel wreaths alternating with fleur-de-lis. A smaller cove follows, with a primarily flat sight edge ornamented at the outside with a repetitive egg-and-dart design. N. B. The same style frame appears on 1931.100.23, 2011-56, and 2011-57 (and is believed original to the last two of these, which are also Cephas Thompson portraits).
Label TextCephas Thompson's portraits of the subject's son and daughter-in-law are also in the collection, all three having been given to Colonial Williamsburg by a family descendant.
InscribedNo original markings found. See "Curatorial Remarks" for documentation of the artist ascription. In pencil on the back of the lower frame member is "#1". In pencil on the back of the upper frame member is "TF2268".
MarkingsA modern plaque attached to the front of the lower frame member reads "ROYAL DIMAN/1768-1820/BY CEPHAS THOMPSON 1816".
ProvenanceThe portrait shares a line of family descent and donation to CWF with acc. nos. 1997-119 and 1997-120; the three descended to CWF's donor, William A. Diman, having been bequeated to him by his cousin, Elizabeth Church Chase of Bristol, Rhode Island, in her will dated April 14, 1976. (See copy of pertinent section in file.)