Wreath of Flowers with Photograph of Mother and Sonc. 186512 × 10"Reverse painting and foil on glass with photographGift of Kristina Barbara Johnson1992.17.220Rectangular tinsel painting with oval hand colored ambrotype portrait at center showing seated woman in lace collared dress and a boy with a cap standing beside her. The portrait is encircled by a floral wreath in yellow, rose, bluish-green and blue. The painting is surrounded by a black background and wooden frame with a gessoed gold finish. A cardboard backing is placed behind the painting.1530091145Artist unidentifiedPaintingsPhotographsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain. Original Guilder's Advertisement:"M. BARRETT AND BRO.....CARVER AND GILDER, NO.82 HOWARD STREET, COR, SARATOGA, BALTIMORE...." Brass ring hook at center top at back.BaltimoreBaltimoreUnited StatesMarylandPaintingsBaltimoreTinsel PaintingThe photograph of a mother and son on this tinsel painting is typical of many taken during the Civil War, with the young boy wearing a replica uniform topped by an officer’s cap. A framer’s label on the reverse for the Baltimore firm M. Barrett & Bro., offers important insight into this painting, which was probably created in Baltimore during the war. Maryland was a slave-holding state but did not secede from the Union. As a border state, her sons supported and fought both with the Union and Confederate armies. Thus, the dark uniform worn by the young boy in this picture suggests strong Union sympathies within his family.
Lee Kogan, "Wreath of Flowers with Photograph of Mother and Son," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012-2013.PAINTING18601870 1992 17 22 Tinsel PaintingThe photograph of a mother and son on this tinsel painting is typical of many taken during the Civil War, with the young boy wearing a replica uniform topped by an officer’s cap. A framer’s label on the reverse for the Baltimore firm M. Barrett & Bro., offers important insight into this painting, which was probably created in Baltimore during the war. Maryland was a slave-holding state but did not secede from the Union. As a border state, her sons supported and fought both with the Union and Confederate armies. Thus, the dark uniform worn by the young boy in this picture suggests strong Union sympathies within his family.
Lee Kogan, "Wreath of Flowers with Photograph of Mother and Son," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012-2013.PAINTING