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THBATTRIBUTED TO DUPUE (THE GUILFORD LIMNER) (Kentucky, Dated 1820), Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. James Ragland on their Kentucky estate., Watercolor, pen an
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About Auction
LiveJul 22, 2025
At our Cape Cod headquarters. Eldred's info@eldreds.com
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- Lot Description
ATTRIBUTED TO DUPUE (THE GUILFORD LIMNER)
Kentucky, Dated 1820
Portrait of Mr. and Mrs. James Ragland on their Kentucky estate. Housed in the original black and gold ogee frame, the backboard inscribed "Mr. Jas. Ragland and wife taken August 1820 on Clark Co., Kentucky by Dupue".
Watercolor, pen and ink on paper, 12.5" x 15.5" sight. Framed.
Provenance:
Clark Bayley, Newbury, Massachusetts, 1958.
The Bertram K. Little & Nina Fletcher Little Collection, Sotheby's, New York, January 29, 1994, Lot #193.
The Folk Art Collection of Jon & Rebecca Zoler, Sotheby's, New York, January 22, 2005, Lot #623.
The Collection of Martha Hamilton.
Exhibited:
Smithsonian Institution traveling exhibit: "American Primitive Watercolor", 1964-1965.
Illustrated:
Little by Little: Six Decades of Collecting American Decorative Arts by Nina Fletcher Little (1984), p. 153, fig. 204.
Reference:
"The Conversation Piece in American Folk Art" by Nina Fletcher Little in The Magazine Antiques, November 1968, p. 744-749.
"The Guilford Limner" by Jim Schlosser in O. Henry: The Art & Soul of Greensboro magazine, February/March, 2012, p. 16-18.
Notes:
James R. Ragland of Clark County is listed in the 1820 Kentucky census. His wife was Frances (Burrus) Ragland.
This portrait bears several stylistic similarities to the body of work attributed to the "Guilford Limner", several of which are in the collection of the Greensboro History Museum in North Carolina. The subjects are typically depicted seated in similar chairs, one leg crossed over the knee, and their hair is wispy, their eyes are unusually large, and their hands are flaccid, often described as "boneless". The women are usually sewing or knitting and the images are often bordered by flowers or vines, as seen here.
Many of the subjects were from the area around Greensboro, in Guilford County, which led to the moniker. This is the only known signed work associated with the Guilford Limner, and no bills, advertisements or receipts have been linked to any works, so his or her identity remains unknown. Several men named Dupue, or close variations thereof, are listed in the same Kentucky census as James Ragland, but it's believed the Guilford Limner traveled throughout North Carolina, Kentucky and Virginia.Condition
The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction.
- Shipping Info
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SHIPPING: We require prompt payment and removal of your purchases as stated in Paragraph 12 of our Conditions of Sale. Arrangements to pick up or ship your purchases must be made within seven (7) days from the close of the auction. All items must be removed from Eldred's facilities within fourteen (14) days of the close of the auction. All items remaining after fourteen days may be subject to a $5/per item/per day storage fee. No items will be released unless storage fees are paid in full. Items remaining over thirty (30) days from the close of the auction may be sold for the buyer's account minus auction and storage fees. SHIPPING OF PURCHASES Shipping is not included in the purchase price. Eldred's is happy to help coordinate and recommend shipping agents. PICK-UP OF PURCHASES If you plan to pick up your purchases, please call ahead and we'll make every effort to have your items ready. Items in this auction may be located at an outside storage facility, so please call ahead.
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