EUR
CAD
AUD
GBP
MXN
HKD
CNY
MYR
SEK
SGD
CHF
THBATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS MACDONALD (Canada/Scotland, 1784/85-1862), Full-length portrait of "Mr. G McGregor", Watercolor and ink on paper, 9.5" x 7.5" sig
Live Auction in Progress ... Currently on Lot Two ways to bid:
- Leave a max absentee bid and the platform will bid on your behalf up to your maximum bid during the live auction.
- Bid live during the auction and your bids will be submitted real-time to the auctioneer.
Bid Increments
| Price | Bid Increment |
|---|---|
| $0 | $10 |
| $100 | $25 |
| $500 | $50 |
| $1,000 | $100 |
| $3,000 | $250 |
| $5,000 | $500 |
| $10,000 | $1,000 |
| $30,000 | $2,500 |
| $50,000 | $5,000 |
| $100,000 | $10,000 |
About Auction
LiveJul 22, 2025
At our Cape Cod headquarters. Eldred's info@eldreds.com
View Full Catalog (238)
- Lot Description
ATTRIBUTED TO THOMAS MACDONALD
Canada/Scotland, 1784/85-1862
Full-length portrait of "Mr. G McGregor", a well-dressed gentleman holding a quill pen while standing at a grain-painted desk in an interior further decorated with a fancy Windsor chair, a patterned rug, red swagged drapes and a botanical painting of thistle on the wall. Unsigned. Subject identified in fancy block lettering at lower margin.
Watercolor and ink on paper, 9.5" x 7.5" sight. Framed 13.5" x 8.5".
Provenance:
The Collection of Martha Hamilton.
Reference:
"The Discovery of Thomas MacDonald, Canada's Elusive Portrait Painter" by Michael Bird and Terry Kobayashi in The Clarion: America's Folk Art Magazine, Winter 1988, p. 37-43.
Notes:
Although considered an important early Canadian folk artist, Thomas MacDonald, sometimes spelled McDonald, remains a bit of a mystery. Some biographies claim he was born in Scotland and emigrated to New Brunswick in 1819, while others say he has a Scottish-American background and was born in Canada. It's believed he was a Scottish Loyalist, based on his known associations; the thistle seen here, a well-known symbol of Scotland, probably is an indication of McGregor's leanings.
MacDonald flourished as an itinerant portrait painter in the 1820s and 1830s in the area of the St. John River Valley, working probably for room and board, as he died penniless. Almost all his known portraits depict the subject in Regency dress situated in a fashionable middle- or upper-class interior, but one that contains Canadian-American furniture forms rather than French or British. The subjects are typically identified in similar fancy block lettering along the lower margin.
A signed example, with an interior and sitter identification very similar to that seen here, was sold at Northeast Auctions, Portsmouth, New Hampshire, August 3, 2014, Lot #542.Not examined out of frame. Light soiling to lower left. Very minor spotting. Frame with some losses.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
-
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.
-
- Buyer's Premium
