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THBRUTH HENSHAW MILES BASCOM (Leicester, Massachusetts, 1772-1848), Profile bust portraits of Betsy Wadsworth and her two daughters, Susan Gates and Eliz
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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
RUTH HENSHAW MILES BASCOM
Leicester, Massachusetts, 1772-1848
Profile bust portraits of Betsy Wadsworth and her two daughters, Susan Gates and Elizabeth Gates. Unsigned. Mother inscribed in pencil verso "Betsy Wadsworth Roxbury N.H. Sketched at Ashby June 1845 by R.H. Bascom". Daughter noted verso "Property of Mr. Howard White Ashby, Mass".
Mixed medias, 17" x 12" sight and 17.5" x 12.5" sight. Framed 22" x 17.25" and 20" x 14.75".
Provenance:
Skinner, Inc., Massachusetts, June 5, 1993, Lots #158-160.
The Collection of Martha Hamilton.
Notes:
Ruth Henshaw Bascom, sometimes referred to as "Aunt Ruth", was born in Leicester, Massachusetts to William Henshaw and Phebe Swan Henshaw. She was married to her first husband, Asa Miles, for only a year before his death in 1805. She married her second husband, the Rev. Ezekiel Lysander Bascom, in 1806, and she began painting as a hobby during his tenures at churches in Phillipston and Ashby, Massachusetts.
Her hobby, however, progressed to a career as she began receiving portrait commissions. Her extensive collection of journals, which she kept from 1789 to 1846 and are now part of the American Antiquarian Society collection in Worcester, Massachusetts, meticulously documents more than 1,000 portraits for which she received money or services in kind. Her most prolific output was in the 1820s and 1830s, as she traveled throughout Massachusetts, Maine, New Hampshire and as far south as Savannah, Georgia.
All her known portraits are in profile, life-size or just slightly smaller, and the backgrounds are plain. She started by tracing the shadow of the sitter and either created collages or colored in the outlines with pastels.Condition
Portrait of the mother has a black paper border "mat". Some minor staining in the neck. UV examination reveals some minor paint strengthening. Both portraits of daughters have some staining at the bottom. One with white ruffles at the collar has a spot of loss at the fore guard, a small hole just off her eye, one spot of foxing just below that, and some minor scattered stains. The other daughter has some paper crimping, a scratch line through the cheek and some toning around the edges. None examined out of frames.
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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