Name/Title
Mary Mason SeldonEntry/Object ID
G438Description
Portrait by unknown artist, believed to be of Mary Mason Selden (1731-1758), only sister of George Mason (1725-1792). Frame old but probably not original, or hard pine (Taeda group).
c. 1750, Virginia.
In a memorandum to her will, Ann (Thomson) Mason makes the following disposition of her daughter's portrait: "It is my will and desire that my cousin, Frances Moncure, the wife of John Moncure, Clerk, take care of my daughter Mary Thomson Selden's picture now in my hall and give it to my grandson Samuel Seldon, when he comes of age, but if he should fie before he becomes of age that then it be given to my granddaughter, Mary Selden."
Apparently, the Selden children did not inherit their mother's portrait. Instead, it went to Stevens Thomson Mason (1760-1803), nephew of Mary Thomson Selden. He was born at "Chappawamsic." It then descended to his son, John Thomson Mason (1787-1850). His daughter, Catherine Armistead (Mason) Rowland (1818-1884), of Detroit, Michigan, then inherited the portrait, leaving it to her son, John Thomson Mason Rowland (1844-1901). Sold to the State of Michigan because of its family connection with Stevens Thomson Mason (1811-1843), the "Boy Governor" of Michigan, it reposed in the cellar of the State House in Lansing and was sold to an antiques dealer, along with some other Mason belongings.Artwork Details
Medium
Canvas, Wood, PaintingAcquisition
Accession
G438Source or Donor
Pamela Lammont DuPont CopelandAcquisition Method
GiftCredit Line
Gunston Hall CollectionLexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
PaintingNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Height
31-1/8 inWidth
26 inProvenance
Notes
Gift of Mrs. Lammot du Pont Copeland of the Delaware Society, 1960.
