PO Box 2135
Asheville, NC 28802
United States
Based in Asheville, North Carolina, Brunk Auctions has been conducting sales of fine and decorative arts for over 30 years. Auctions are held in our North Carolina sale room but attracts a global audience. Founded by Robert Brunk in 1983, the auctions became well known for their integrity and profes...Read more
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Feb 26, 2026
(Charleston, South Carolina/Chur, Switzerland, 1716-1774)
Rare and Important Wedding Portrait, circa 1760, not visibly signed, oil on canvas, 29-1/2 x 24-1/2 in.; period and possibly original bolection frame, bald cypress strainer, 32-1/2 x 27-3/4 x 1-1/4 in.
Provenance: Acquired by the current owner from the sale of the Estate of George Withers, Sommerset, England
Note: We are excited to share the recent discovery of a previously unknown work by Jeremiah Theus. It was offered at a regional English house, Dore & Rees, lot 21, February 21, 2024. Sold in a lot of four English portraits from the estate of the dealer/collector, George Withers, link to bio - https://www.doreandrees.com/the-private-collection-of-george-withers) this is the portrait that was pictured online.
While the sitter has not been identified, there are stylistic similarities that point to a possible connection with a well documented portrait of William Richardson, by Theus. https://artgallery.yale.edu/collections/objects/45313
This portrait is held by the Yale University Art Gallery. Style would appear to place our portrait around the same time of execution. If the painting on offer is a wedding portrait then one might assume there would be a pendant portrait of the groom. Anne Magdalen Guignard married Capt. William Richardson in St. Philip's Parish, Charleston on 13 October 1768. The portrait of William Richardson could be this wedding portrait executed in advance of his military service. Perhaps we are looking at a portrait of his young bride Anne. The couple lived and are buried at Bloomhill Plantation in Sumter County, South Carolina. An advertisement in the Charleston Courier (online) 31 July 1869 references that Bloomhill Plantation and its contents were purchased by two English Gentleman (see image in note). Perhaps this rare Charleston portrait found its way to England with one of them.
There is room for continued research, and perhaps the sitter's name will remain an enigma.
Click here is read Martha R. Severens, Jeremiah Theus of Charleston: “Plagiarist or Pundit?”, published in Southern Quarterly; Hattiesburg Vol. 24, Iss. 1, (Fall 1985): 56.
Acquired by the current owner from the sale of the Estate of George Withers, Sommerset, England
Purchased items will be available for pick up or shipping from our Asheville, North Carolina auction facility within ten business days of the auction, or will be assessed a storage fee of $5.00 per day, per item. Purchaser agrees that packing and shipping is done at the purchaser's risk and that the purchaser will pay in advance all packing expenses, materials, carrier fees and insurance charges. At our discretion, items will either be packed by an agent such as a packaging store or Brunk Auctions. Please allow two weeks for shipping after payment is received. Shipment of large items is the responsibility of the purchaser. We are happy to provide names of carriers and shippers if a purchaser so requests. Brunk Auctions will have no liability for any loss or damage to shipped items.
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