Oil Painting - This oil portrait (76cm x 63.5 cm) of Solomon Jacobs was done by Thomas Sully Sr. from life in 1812. It was on the ascendancy of Jacobs to the position of the Grand Master Masons of Virginia. He married Hetty Nones of Philadelphia...Benjamin's daughter. He was born to Bernard Jacobs in Heidelberg, Pennsylvania in 1777. He was a prosperous merchant in Richmond, Virginia acting as a tobacco agent for the French Government and represented the European banking houses of Rothschild. From a public service prospective he was one of the most prominent Southern Jews of the 1st quarter of the 1800’s. He is to be found in all major histories of Early American Jews. A brief outline of his public service in Virginia is presented below The history of the Jews of Richmond from 1769 to 1917 By Herbert Tobias Ezekiel, Gaston Lichtenstein... "A man of parts" would be particularly applicable to Solomon Jacobs. He rose to the highest municipal office—Recorder and Acting Mayor—ever held by a Richmond Jew; he attained the greatest Masonic honors within the gift of the craft in Virginia, being thrice elected Grand Master, the only person of his faith in the State who ever held this position. And withal he remained a loyal and consistent adherent to Judaism, serving Congregation Beth Shalome as its President. Reverting to Jacobs' Masonic career, the record of Richmond Randolph Lodge, No. 19, shows that he was its twelfth Master, holding office from 1804 to 1807. His advancement in the Grand Lodge was remarkably rapid, for three years after this latter date he had reached the exalted station of Grand Master, to which he was re-elected in 18n and 1812. A steel engraving of him as Grand Master in 1813 appears in the re-printed proceedings of 1777-1823. This picture is from a painting by the elder Sully, now in possession of grandchildren in Richmond. Such is its excellence that the portrait has been shown at various exhibitions. (It was sold by the family and entered the Whitney collection....in portraits of Jews by London, pub. 1926 listed as; own by Mrs. William a. Harriman, NYC who purchased from Macbeth Gallery) Copy of inscription on his tombstone in the Beth Haim in Richmond, Virginia, of K. K. Beth Shalome: In memory of Solomon Jacobs who died on the 12th day of Hesvan 5588 [November 2, 1827], aged 52 years. During a hopeless and painful illness, which he bore with great patience and nnshaken fortitude he manifested in no ordinary degree his perfect reliance on the mercy of God and his entire con viction of the truth of the Mosaic dispensation. He passed a life of activity, usefulness and unblemished integrity. Called to office of distinction in the municipality of the city and other corporate institutions, he discharged his duty with firmness and ability. Fond as a husband, indulgent as a father, kind as a master, hospitable and benevolent as a man, steady and disinterested as a friend. Valuation: 1. The painting was purchased by Mr. Kaplan from the Whitney collection Auction at Sotheby’s in 1999 for $50,962.50 including commission 2. Condition · Excellent general condition · the frame is not original · Painting has been cleaned & re-lined with well less than 5% restoration • Clearly the work of Sully but not signed, Sotheby’s attributed it to Sully in the Auction Catalogue 3. The value of Thomas Sully Sr.’s paintings vary widely based on fame of sitter and quality of painting. In the same period this painting was purchased, a similar quality Sully of a gentle man would fetch $10,000-20,000. However a small Sully painting of Thomas Jefferson sold for $209,100 @ Christie's New York in 2003, his self portrait sold for $102,770 @ Christie’s New York in 2004 and Sully’s portrait of Peal sold for $144,000 @ Christie’s New York in 11/2006 4. Early American paintings of Jews are rare and easily fetch premiums of 2-3x comparable art due more to their historical significance to collectors of American Judaica as their art content. 5. The Solomon Jacobs was displayed at the one year long opening of the Museum of American Jewish History Museum in Philadelphia. (2010-2011) it was the premier early 1800’s portraits shown. 6. In the decade since this painting was purchased interest and value of early American Judaica has increased substantially. Given the subject, the fact that is the only known from life portrait of Jacobs and the fame of the artist… this painting would be valued at $125,000. One of the finest early American portraits with a Jewish sitter known
Subject: 19th Century Painting
No additional authority information available for 19th Century Painting.
Pair of oil portraits of Charles Edward Etting (1844-1910) and Ruben Etting (1842-1911), painted circa 1848 by Jane Cooper Sully Darley. The sitters' names are inscribed on the back of the paintings. The portraits depict the brothers at approximately ages 3 and 5. The paintings are beautifully executed and presented in original ornate frames. Charles Edward Etting served as an officer in the Union Army during the Civil War. The boys are the sons of Edward and Phillipa Minnis.
Oil - ISAAC Moses (1743-1818) circa 1805... Attributed..John Wesley Jarvis NYC. A similar portrait done about 5 years later is in the Museum; of the City of NY. That portrait has him wearing a fur cap but in the same pose, clothes look; similar & same chair. Deborah Waters, Head of Collections at the MCNY has been to our home and; looked at our portrait. She easily concluded that they are both by Jarvis but ours is a younger; sitting by 5 years. Theirs does not have an original frame and has had serious restoration. The Moses family of New York has been a prominent Jewish family since the American Revolution. Isaac Moses (1742-1818). born in Giessen, Germany, moved to New York in 1764. In 1766 he became a “freeman” of New York City. He worked in his uncle, Hayman Levy's, mercantile firm until he established Isaac Moses and Company with two business partners in 1775. His firm supported the Revolutionary army by accepting $20,000 Continental paper dollars in exchange for $20,000 in hard currency, thereby financing the war effort. The firm also traded for military supplies internationally and sold guns and ammunition to the army. When the British occupied New York, Isaac Moses left for Philadelphia and ran the firm from there. In 1783 he returned to New York City and continued his commercial enterprises. Despite a bankruptcy in 1786, he was generally financially successful, establishing Isaac Moses and & Sons, an international trading company. He was also a major stockholder in the Bank of New York. He was one of the founders of the NY Stock Exchange. Isaac Moses was very involved in his community. He was a Mason in New York City's Union Lodge, and an important member of the New York City Chamber of Commerce. He was also president of Congregation Shearith Israel in New York, and one of the principle organizers of the Congregation Mikveh Israel in Philadelphia. He married Reyna Levy in 1770. They had ten children together. FROM GRATZ COLLECTION IN CANADA..NATHAN FAMILY ARCHIVE
An oil painting depicting two lovers, created by Solomon Nunes Carvalho. Purchased directly from Joan Sturhahn, a great-great granddaughter of Carvalho. Exhibited at the Yeshiva University Museum and the Maryland Jewish Historical Society in 1988 and 1989. This is considered one of Carvalho's earliest works and is described in Joan Sturhahn's book *Carvalho, Artist-Photographer-Adventurer-Patriot*.