Name/Title
JULIA (PAULDING) IRVINGEntry/Object ID
SS.2016.7 a-bDescription
a. Canvas: Oval, three-quarter length portrait of a middle-aged woman, facing PR, hands folded; wears Empire-style white dress with sheer lace sleeve, gold armband at bicep with red jewel, red ribbon at wrist; gather lace rouching at neckline; rouched lace cap; brown curly hair framing face, one lock falling over forehead; over shoulder at PR, black lace shawl; red wool shawl visible at CF and under hands; interlaced fingers; red upholstered gilt chair visible over shoulder; green-gray background; on reverse, on wooden stretcher, two labels, first, handwritten in ink: "By Sully/ Julia P. Irving/ wife of/ William Irving" and second, typewritten: "Julia P. Irving/ wife of William Irving."
b. Frame: oval; gold painted (?), wide with multiple moldings; innermost, plain; second molding, roses and scrolling foliate pattern; third molding, concave; fourth molding, raised, with deeply concave outer edge; outermost molding, wire and scrolling ribbon pattern.Made/Created
Artist Information
Artist
Thomas SullyAttribution
ArtistDate made
1810 - 1820Inscription/Signature/Marks
Type
InscriptionTranscription
(See Description)Dimensions
Dimension Description
SightHeight
29-3/4 inWidth
24-3/4 inDepth
1 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 29 3/4 x 24 3/4 x 1 in. (75.6 x 62.9 x 2.5 cm)Dimension Description
FramedHeight
38-1/2 inWidth
34-1/2 inDepth
3-1/2 inDimension Notes
Display Dimensions: 38 1/2 x 34 1/2 x 3 1/2 in. (97.8 x 87.6 x 8.9 cm)Material
Oil on canvas; wood (unknown), PlasterCondition
Notes
Remarks: (a.) Overall yellow; uneven varnish with shiny and matte areas; in red fold of shawl at lower edge, CF, possible in-fill; (b.) Large chip in high point of molding at 9:00 (if frame is a clock face); 1" chip and loss to same at 11:00; outermost molding small chips and losses at 6:00; overall light scratching to gold surface.
Notes from Conservator Felicity Campbell, 12/2/2016:
Also relined and signs of past restoration campaign/s
There is a “key” for the frame stuck at the back of the canvas causing a bulge
The varnish is also hazy and uneven
Acid-free backing recommended
The shiny drips would be improved
She also had work done – she was probably also abraded, the black areas especially tend to get over-cleaned, but the hands have been worked over as well.
There are “strange areas” in the PR hand and shawl area
Earlier restoration was done to the face and strengthened the appearance of the lace shawl and side of chair
Heavily abraded at some point and past restoration was done to address it.
Recommendation similar – a more conservative approach is best to not uncover more issues:
Take canvas out of frame
Get rid of nails
Fix the fallen key issue
Even out the stretch bit of the canvas
Surfact cleaning
Adjustment of blue-purple colors
Revarnish
Backing board and correct hardware Total: $1500-2000Relationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
Julia Paulding Irving (1768-1823)Notes
SubjectPerson or Organization
Wilmer Hoffman Kingsford (1923-1979)Notes
Former ownerRelated Entries
Notes
SS.2016.6 a-b - Portrait - RelatedGeneral Notes
Note Type
Curatorial RemarksNote
The attribution to Sully is in question, since these two do not appear in "A register of portraits painted by Thomas Sully, 1801-1871" which includes over 2,600 works. This transcript of Sully's own private register was published in 1908. The register makes no mention of William and Julia Irving, but does include "838. Irving, W. 'Partly from memory. Hints from a portrait in Harper's Weekly.' 30 x 25 1870." The annotation identifies this image as Washington Irving [Jessa J. Krick, Collections Manager, 11/15/2016].Note Type
General NoteNote
Pair with SS.2016.6 a-b; Julia (Paulding) Irving was a cousin of John Paulding (VC.79.1 a-b), one of the captors of John Andre.Note Type
StorageNoteNote
Home Location: Historic Hudson Valley, Union Church, Storage, Unit 6 Slot 02Note Type
DepartmentNote
Curatorial