Portrait of a Woman in a Mulberry Dress1835–184033 1/8 x 27 "
Frame: 42 3/4 x 36 7/8 x 2 1/2 " (108.6 x 93.7 x 6.4 cm)Oil on canvasGift of Ann R. Coste1970.1.10portrait1535091925Isaac SheffieldPaintingsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.New LondonNew LondonUnited StatesConnecticutPaintingsNew LondonSheffield is first documented as a painter in the New York City directory of 1828 in which he is listed as a "miniature painter." By 1830 he was listed in the Brooklyn directory as a "portrait and miniature painter." His father's death in 1830 brought him back to New London, Connecticut, where he consistently painted prominent sea captains and their relatives. This portrait probably represents the wife of one of the five sea captains named Smith in New London at the time. It is possibly a wedding portrait.
Elizabeth V. Warren and Stacy C. Hollander, "Portrait of a Woman in a Mulberry Dress (Probably Mrs. Smith)," Expressions of a New Spirit: Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art (New York: American Folk Art Museum, 1989), 26Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgportraitPAINTINGIssac Sheffield was the son of Captain Issac Sheffield and Betsy Sizar of New London, Connecticut. Sheffield is first documented as a a painter in the NYC directory of 1828 in which he is listed as a "miniature painter." By 1830, he was listed in the Brooklyn directory as "miniature and portrait painter." His father's death in 1830, brought Sheffield back to New London, Connecticut presumably to stay with his widowed mother. In 1830 he advertised that he was "now carrying on his business on Court Street, a few doors from Mrs. Allen's City Hotel." Thereafter he consistently painted prominent sea captains and their relatives of the New London area. This painting is very similar to the wedding portrait of Martha Manwaring of 1835. Previously the painting was known as "Woman with Birthmark" and has thought to be the companion portrait of "Captain J. Smith with Ship Chelsea." (see insert #1) Joyce Hill confirmed that the "Lady" was probably the wife of one of the five Captain Smiths of New London, but definitely not wife of Captain Smith, father of James Franklin Smith whose portrait by Sheffield is very well known.18351840 1970 1 1 Sheffield is first documented as a painter in the New York City directory of 1828 in which he is listed as a "miniature painter." By 1830 he was listed in the Brooklyn directory as a "portrait and miniature painter." His father's death in 1830 brought him back to New London, Connecticut, where he consistently painted prominent sea captains and their relatives. This portrait probably represents the wife of one of the five sea captains named Smith in New London at the time. It is possibly a wedding portrait.
Elizabeth V. Warren and Stacy C. Hollander, "Portrait of a Woman in a Mulberry Dress (Probably Mrs. Smith)," Expressions of a New Spirit: Highlights from the Permanent Collection of the Museum of American Folk Art (New York: American Folk Art Museum, 1989), 26Object information is a work in progress and may be updated with new research. Records are reviewed and revised, and the American Folk Art Museum welcomes additional information.
To help improve this record, please email photoservices@folkartmuseum.orgportraitPAINTINGIssac Sheffield was the son of Captain Issac Sheffield and Betsy Sizar of New London, Connecticut. Sheffield is first documented as a a painter in the NYC directory of 1828 in which he is listed as a "miniature painter." By 1830, he was listed in the Brooklyn directory as "miniature and portrait painter." His father's death in 1830, brought Sheffield back to New London, Connecticut presumably to stay with his widowed mother. In 1830 he advertised that he was "now carrying on his business on Court Street, a few doors from Mrs. Allen's City Hotel." Thereafter he consistently painted prominent sea captains and their relatives of the New London area. This painting is very similar to the wedding portrait of Martha Manwaring of 1835. Previously the painting was known as "Woman with Birthmark" and has thought to be the companion portrait of "Captain J. Smith with Ship Chelsea." (see insert #1) Joyce Hill confirmed that the "Lady" was probably the wife of one of the five Captain Smiths of New London, but definitely not wife of Captain Smith, father of James Franklin Smith whose portrait by Sheffield is very well known.