2. American School (early 19th Century)

Portrait of Martin Wolf of Wooster, Ohio.
Oil on canvas, circa 1838, unsigned, framed.
30" x 24".

PROVENANCE: By descent in the family of the sitter.

3,000/6,000     

This handsome half-length portrait depicts Martin Wolf, a carpenter from Wooster, Ohio. He was married twice, first to Elizabeth Cloase, on March 27, 1828 in Wayne County, Ohio by Justice of the Peace, Dana Hyde. He married his second wife, Martha Ogden, on August 7, 1837, in Wayne County. He and his second wife had four children: Melissa, Isaac Ogden, Winfield S. and Erasmus Charles. Martha was a talented milliner, who kept a shop in their Wooster home.

This painting originally formed a pair with a portrait of Martha Ogden Wolf. Both likenesses were painted at the same time, around 1838, though at some point they were separated and the current whereabouts of Martha's portrait are unknown. The identity of the artist of this work is unrecorded, although judging from the high quality draftsmanship, the artist clearly had a professional level of artistic training.

Condition: Unrestored condition; heavy surface soils and grime, two 1/4" holes in canvas at top center, one at lower center, 1" horizontal tear just above hairline, 1-1/2" horizontal tear on right shoulder, perimeter damages to pigment; mostly at lower edge, crazing of pigment layer, some scuffs and abrasions. This painting appears never to have been restored and is in its original mahogany veneered frame with original hanging loop.