Late 1700s Miniature Portrait...

[j.d. in the usa]

Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

I have posted this pic a few times before, but I have new Information I took my portrait to a museum because its deteriorating fast and I was hoping to find out how to preserve it. The person at the museum pointed out something on the portrait I never had seen before there magnifying system is way better than mine, as in my older posts I thought the portrait was made by Charles Wilson Peale a famous American artist who I thought painted the picture but I had no proof, now I do on the miniature portrait itself are the Initials "CWP" Charles Wilson Peale. This is a never ending saga and it continues still .... here is the pic again with a cxlose up of the letters sorry I cant get it clearer but in the museums microscope you can clearly see "CWP". and I've included other famous painting made by this person. hh all jd

 

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[vic910]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

That's awesome! Are you going to be able to save the picture?

vicki

 

[j.d. in the usa]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

Vicki, they are trying to help me get it to the University Of Missouri to there preservation specialists... I will keep you all informed of whats next.

 

[cryptodave]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

JD, that is friggin' awesome!!!!!

I missed your earlier posts on this. How did you come about having it?

 

[j.d. in the usa]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

I found it in bristol Pa. about 9 in. down it was the first time my detector read silver dollar and I dug was very excited and pulled out a round bent in half piece of copper, so I put it in my bag and took it home it had clay between the bend usually i just wash it off with water but I decide to open it first this time and out popped a second metal piece and inner ring and I noticed paper on the clay as I pulled it back I saw the portrait, thank god I didnt rinse it off first, its been a rolar coaster ride ever since I found it, I have a large 4 page piece on it but you need microsoft works in order to view it. jd

 

[Maggie from Indiana]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

What an awsome piece of history to have. To have something painted by someone who actually painted portraits of our Four Fathers. Gives ya goose bumps.

 

[savage59]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

just donate the thing. they can take better care of it than you sport. CHOW-!

 

[JakePhelps]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

Nice picture Good luck in saving it, thats not a bad idea of donating it if its really rare and important to history...How old is it anyway? amazing how it survived all this time!

 

[tsgman]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

JD, I think with all the research you have compiled, and the fact that you actually dug this yourself, If I were you I would loan it but not just give it away ! It's easy for someone else to say just give it away, but I bet if they found it they wouldn't give it away. I say keep it and the University would restore it. I bet they would do it just for the historical value it has. Tim

 

[j.d. in the usa]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

thanks Jake and Tim.... this is how I look at it if it is a piece of historical value, like if its a picture of Martha Washington, Besty Ross, Dolly Madison or another woman of historical importance I wouldnt hesitate to donate it the professionals are far better off taking care of it than I would be and it would be a piece that must be saved.
If just a generic picture of a family member or friend of his and not historicaly important I would try to get it preserved as good as possible and keep it. I do have no intention of selling it.
The funny thing is this I contacted the University of Pa., and the Maryland Museum of Fine Arts last year, expressing interest in donating the piece since it may be of historical value and both have extensive works of Charles Wilson Peale neither ever responded to me. even though they say they accept donations. I also never persued it any farther than that.

It opens up questions, Keep it?, sell it?, donate it? what would you do? I'd like people to post here what they would do I believe it would be interesting to see the responses. jd

 

[allen]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

i mustve missed the other postings. Whered you get it from?

 

[JakePhelps]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

maybe they are too lazy to try and preserve it If they are ignoring you like that chances are they dont want it, and i for one wouldnt give it to them...i think your best bet is to pay someone to have it professionally restored and identified, that way its stable and you can keep it or decide what to do with it I have heard of that puzzle saver stuff but i wouldnt use that :P

 

[ashdigger]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

JD that is a very nice find and the fact that its in the same time frame as our founding fathers makes it more interesting. Keep looking there will be somebody out there that will know where to send it to have it preserved. I think this is something that needs to stay in you're family but also needs to be shared, I'm sure there are lots of people that would like to see this, tough decision anyway good job and good luck. Steve..

 

[tsgman]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

Good common sense Ashdigger. I took the family to Washington, D.C. this summer, toured the Russell Senate Building and saw alot of art there, and at the Smithsonian, and Mt. Vernon. And she looks kinda familiar. They have a huge display of first ladies at the Smithsonian.

 

[Vrent]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

that is cool great find any hopes of finding out who it is a portrait of? I would keep it and display it prominently. it is even more incredible because it was buried, great great find

HH Vrent

 

[ashleen]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

JD,...............................
have you been BACK to the site where you found this??
get there, man, before the ground freezes!
just a thought...
Ashleen
(~.~)

 

[j.d. in the usa]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

the site has been destroyed I had found many artifacts there now there are 4 warehouses and a water tower were the site used to be I also found a solid gold locket with hair still in it there also, I'm trying to get advice on what to do with that piece too.

 

[tsgman]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

My friends think I'm lucky with the stuff I find, but I think you can be good and lucky. And you obviously are both. I have seen several of the lockets with hair in them at cw museum's. Must of been a popular thing to have back in the day.

 

[Maggie from Indiana]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

I say take it to the Antique road show or to Christy's. Get something out of it. For goodness sake don't give it away.

 

[tsgman]

Re: Late 1700's Miniature Portrait...

Rite on Maggie !