Lot 627: Edward Savage (1761-1817) Portrait of Olethia Tilton Dorsey,

American, Massachusetts, ca 1790-1800, stamped Savage on verso, oil on canvas portrait of O'lethia Tilton Dorsey, housed in period lemon gilt frame; 30 x 25.5 in. (sight).

Extensive family provenance on verso partially reading O'lethia Tilton Dorsey/ Taken A.D. (Anno Domini) 1798 from life/ Given to O'lethia Tannehill (niece/ Louisville, Ky. A.D. 1848/ Given to Jennie King (great niece)/ Walnut Grove, Ill. A.D. 1903.

Edward Savage was born in Princeton, Massachusetts in 1761. Self-taught it is believed he could have studied the works of John Singleton Copley, to learn portraiture. His painting career began in Boston in the mid 1770's, Harvard University commissioned him to paint Washington's Portrait, for which he traveled to New York. In 1771, Savage was commissioned by John Adams to paint George and Martha Washington. Later from 1791-1793 he learned the art of engraving, which he studied abroad, possibly with Benjamin West. Moving to Philadelphia in 1795 he accomplished a work that was the pinnacle of his career, a panorama over 9 feet long of The Washington Family, and charging admission to view it, because it was the first panorama of the Federalist period, making it unique; he also did an engraving of this prized work. Next, living in New York till 1810, he ran a gallery with a natural history exhibit, then, returning to Boston, and opening a similar gallery there. In 1817, he died at the place of his birth, Princeton Massachusetts.

Canvas has not been relined, repaired "L" shaped tear on left side, craquelure and flaking.