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THBTHOMAS MACDONALD (Canada/Scotland, 1784/1785-1862), "Miss Ann Nichol" with a book and her mending., Watercolor on paper, 8.25" x 6.25" sight. Framed 1
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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
THOMAS MACDONALD
Canada/Scotland, 1784/1785-1862
"Miss Ann Nichol" with a book and her mending. Purportedly the artist's sweetheart. Identified in panel in lower margin.
Watercolor on paper, 8.25" x 6.25" sight. Framed 10.5" 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.
For a similar example see Northeast Auctions, August 2-3, 2014, Lot #542.
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.
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.Condition
Curved tone line in lower right corner with some light abrasion at the top of that line. Toning in the upper right corner and along top edge. Some loss of pigment, primarily to the red areas. Couple of small tears at the bottom edge. UV examination results: no obvious repairs visible.
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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