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  OIL ON WOODEN PANEL, UNSIGNED, CIRCA 1810-1830’S; THIS VIEW AFTER A 1796 ENGRAVING BY EDWARD SAVAGE (1761-1817): “LIBERTY IN THE FORM OF THE GODDESS OF YOUTH, GIVING SUPPORT TO THE BALD EAGLE”
Dimensions (inches): Frame - 37" x 27.25", Work - 25.5" x 15.75"
Description:
This oil on wooden panel, rendered circa 1810 – 1830, in a pleasing, folk art style, reproduces a view from a 1796 engraving by artist Edward Savage (1761-1817), entitled: “Liberty in the Form of the Goddess of Youth Giving Support to the Bald Eagle". The popularity of the image is evidenced by other surviving works in various mediums. There is an important naive painting at the National Gallery of Art, loosely based on the engraving, and a needlework embroidery at the Worcester Art Museum, signed and dated 1804 by 16-year old Mary Green of Worchester, Massachusetts. I previously acquired and sold a small watercolor on paper of the same view.

Savage, who maintained galleries in both Boston and New York, based the engraving on earlier copies of the view he rendered in oil-on-canvas, none of which are presently known to have survived. In the engraving, the figure tramples symbolic implements of the British monarchy, including the British Star of the Order of the Garter – not present in the version presented here – and the key to the French Bastille prison. Boston Harbor is depicted on the shore, in a storm, with British ships fleeing the harbor. Both storm and ships are absent in this view.

Savage’s original engraving displayed an American flag with 13 stars and 13 stripes on a staff topped with a liberty cap. Some of the copies of his work exhibit 12 or, like this example, with 9 stars, a popular number in early patriotic imagery of both stars and of stripes.

I married this work to an extraordinarily bold, water-gilded, American molding, made circa 1830, which originally served as the frame for a pier mirror that purchased years ago, that had come out of the Valentine Swain House on Upper Main Street in Nantucket, which was bequeathed to his daughter, Eunice, one of the most famous Nanucket residents. Following her 2nd marriage to Thomacy Macy, in 1824, Eunice Coffin Macy moved to 99 Main Street, the most iconic and often-sketched residence on the entire illand, perhaps second only to the Oldest House on Sunset Hill. Having exhibited at the NHA’s August Antique Show for many years, I acquired it from a dealer on island. I saved the frame for 15-20 years or more in search of the right painting to complement it. The name “Linda Swain West” is inscribed in pencil on the reverse. Though I cannot find record of her middle name, I expect this is likely Linda S. (Kelley) West (b. Nov. 1858, d. Mar. 28, 1927), of Nantucket, daughter of Timothy & Elizabeth Kelley, who is buried on Prospect Hill, wife of Hartford, CT-born architect Albert Melvin West.

The ivory colored fabric ground is 100% hemp fabric. The painting was set into a recessed mount, then carefully secured with screws from the reverse for added safety.

Condition: I made one small repair to a flake along the top edge, approximately ¼ of the distance from the left edge.
   
Primary Color: multicolored
Earliest Date: 1810
Latest Date: 1830
For Sale Status: Sold
Price SOLD
E-mail: info@jeffbridgman.com
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