Name/Title
Man with Rutland HeraldEntry/Object ID
1964.59.20Description
Portrait of a man in a black suit holding a newspaper. The man has dark hair swept to the left and long side burns. He is shown cleanshaven and with light-colored eyes. He is wearing a high-collared suit consisting of a black coat, black vest that opens at the center, black tie, and white shirt. He is leaning against a red upholstered furniture arm, and holding a newspaper with the letters "RALD" visible at the top [Rutland Herald]. A compass and square are painted into the background at the left, indicating Masonic ties.Type of Painting
EaselContext
Found in Clarendon, VermontAcquisition
Accession
1964.59Source or Donor
Eddy, Henry Howard (1899-1965)Acquisition Method
GiftMade/Created
Artist
Fletcher, Aaron DeanDate made
circa 1835Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
PaintingNomenclature Class
ArtNomenclature Category
Category 08: Communication ObjectsDimensions
Dimension Description
UnframedHeight
27-7/8 inWidth
23-1/4 inDimension Description
FramedHeight
33-1/4 inWidth
28-3/4 inDepth
3 inRelationships
Related Person or Organization
Person or Organization
FreemasonsRelated Places
Place
Town
ClarendonCounty
Rutland CountyState/Province
VermontCountry
United States of AmericaContinent
North AmericaInterpretative Labels
Label
Unfortunately the identity of the man in this portrait is unknown. The four portraits in this family group were found in the Chippenhook section of Clarendon and the family was probably from that area. The details in the portraits provide some information about the sitters. They are dressed and coiffed in a stylish yet restrained manner. The man is holding a Rutland Herald indicating that he was literate and reinforcing his Vermont connection. To the left of his shoulder you will see a drawing compass and square, indicating that he was a Mason. This would have been a strong political statement during a time when the majority of Vermonters viewed Masonic membership as undemocratic.
Aaron Dean Fletcher (1817-1902) was born in Springfield, Vermont. He was self-taught and began his career in the Springfield area painting neighbors and friends from 1835 to 1839. By 1840 he had moved to Keeseville, New York. The Chippenhook portraits may have been painted by Fletcher on his way to New York. They have his characteristic olive background and black outlining of figures. Like many itinerant artists of the time, Fletcher traveled west to Indiana in 1856, but returned after a year to New York, where he continued to earn a meager living as an artist. He died in Keeseville in 1902. The frames are modern.