Skip to main content
Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon
Attributed to Jonas W. Holman
Photo by Gavin Ashworth
Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon
Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon
Attributed to Jonas W. Holman
Photo by Gavin Ashworth
Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon Attributed to Jonas W. Holman Photo by Gavin Ashworth
Record Details

Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon

Artist ((1805–1873))
Datec. 1830–1835
Place/RegionProbably Maine, United States
MediumOil on canvas
Dimensions28 × 24"
Credit LineGift of Jacqueline Loewe Fowler
Accession number1995.17.1
CopyrightThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.
Description

The portrait of this unidentified woman bears an uncanny resemblance to the portrait of Delilah Cook (Mrs. Levi) Johnson that was painted around the same time. Superficial similarities, such as the column and drape and atmospheric clouds in the background, can be attributed to conventions of the period. Both subjects are portrayed waist-length, with one arm crossed horizontally at the waist and holding a New Testament. Mrs. Johnson’s hand is presented flat against the picture plane, with one finger extended on the book’s spine. The woman in the Museum’s portrait holds the testament with only her thumb and index finger visible; both wear rings. Decorative neck pieces appear in each portrait, Mrs. Johnson wearing a beautiful beaded friendship ribbon draped over her shoulders and tucked into her waistband, probably with a watch at the end. The Museum’s subject has a lovely embroidered pink neck ribbon crossed over a deep lace collar with scalloped edges; a gold watch hangs from a long chain almost to her waist. Each has high cheekbones accentuated by rose tones and dark eyes with prominent shadows tracing the line from lid to brow. But the distinctive feature clearly uniting these two portraits is the very specific and almost identical shape of their noses.

It is unlikely that both portraits depict Delilah Cook Johnson, and in fact the Museum’s subject has a cleft in her chin, whereas Mrs. Johnson does not. Their resemblance, however, is surely more than coincidence; they may be sisters or close relations. It has been noted independently that each portrait resembles the work of an artist working in Maine, Massachusetts, and New Hampshire once known as the Bordern Limner and since thought to possibly be John S. Blunt (1798–1835). However, despite similarities to the work of Blunt—the set of the jaw, the placement of the exposed ear in relation to the plane of the face- neither portrait exhibits the green tint in the flesh tones or the use of acid reds and greens most prominently associated with this artist’s work.

Delilah Cook married Levi Johnson during the 1830s, probably around the time her portrait was painted. Johnson was originally from Readfield, Maine, and moved to Canaan in 1830 after the death of his first wife. He was an attorney in Canaan and active in local and state government, representing Somerset County in the Maine State Senate for the year 1836. Little is known of Mrs. Johnson, and it has not been determined if she indeed had a sister; the couple had five children.

Stacy C. Hollander, "Woman with Pink Neck Ribbon," in American Anthem: Masterworks from the American Folk Art Museum (New York: Harry N. Abrams in association with American Folk Art Museum, 2001), 324.

Box
Jonas Weber
Photographed by Gavin Ashworth
Jonas Weber
1835 - 1850
1995.4.1
Theodor Frick, Porkpacker, Richmond, Va.
Carl W. Hambuch
Photo © 2000 John Bigelow Taylor
Carl W. Hambuch
1878
2005.8.16
Girl in Red Dress with Cat and Dog
Ammi Phillips
Photo by John Parnell
Ammi Phillips
1830–1835
2001.37.1
Child Holding Doll and Shoe
Attributed to George G. Hartwell 
Photo by Gavin Ashworth
George G. Hartwell
c. 1845
1992.10.1
Attributed to Sturtevant J. Hamblin, (1817–1884), “Sea Captain,” Probably Massachusetts, c.1845…
Sturtevant J. Hamblin
c.1845
1992.10.2
Artist unidentified, “Clipper ‘Great Republic'”, Probably United States, Mid-nineteenth century…
Artist unidentified
Mid-nineteenth century
1980.36.7
Artist unidentified, “Frigate 'Sovereign of the Seas'”, United Kingdom or United States, 1852, …
Artist unidentified
1852
1980.36.12
View of Mt. Vernon and George Washington's Tomb
William Matthew Prior
Photographed by John Pa…
William Matthew Prior
c. 1850- 1860
1986.3.5
Artist unidentified, “Shooting the Polar Bear in the Arctic,” New England, 19th century, Oil on…
Artist unidentified
19th century
1986.9.3
Artist unidentified, “Portrait of A Man”, Connecticut, 1812, Oil on canvas, 35 × 29 1/2 in., Co…
Artist unidentified
1812
1993.9.1