Folk Art Portrait Painting "Young Girl in a Red Dress", American, Circa 1825

Description

Lovely full length portrait of a young girl in this folk art painting; oil on canvas mounted on board. She … more Lovely full length portrait of a young girl in this folk art painting; oil on canvas mounted on board. She is posing wearing an attractive and colorful red dress while holding a floral branch in each hand; a colorful and a fabricated pastoral landscape background completes the subject matter. She has rosy cheeks and is wearing a simple red coral necklace. The artist is unidentified but surely American and early 19th century, circa 1825.

The painting is in very nice condition and has been lightly professionally cleaned to remove old varnish. Black light detects minor inpainting to the girl's forehead and small spots to the lower portion of the red dress; also some areas above left "in the field". The canvas is sound and firmly laid on board, while being housed in the appropriate complimentary period wood frame.

I am a respected member of The Antiques' Dealers Association of America and have been dealing in folk art for over 45 years and well qualified to accurately evaluate, describe, and determine the authenticity of folk art paintings in the marketplace such as this example. It is one of the more charming and desirable images collectors are attracted to.

American folk painting achieved it’s peak of popularity after 1800 when citizens wanted a symbol to record their newly achieved accomplishments in life. They wanted to express pride in their recently acquired status and preserve the moment for the benefit and amusement of future generations. The portrait was a way to document this in perpetuity.
This portrait painting of a young girl merits the attention of folk art collectors seeking fine quality 19th century paintings by untrained artists. It comprises a pleasing subject matter in a colorful setting; a nice addition to Americana collections.

Dimensions: (in frame) = 38" high x 32" wide
(actual painting) = 34" high x 28" wide

Provenance:
Family originally from New York State; recently acquired in West Coast Estate less