ATTRIBUTED TO DANIEL JOHNSON KELLOGG
America, 19th Century
Portrait of a woman holding a book.

Unsigned. Handwritten note verso identifies the sitter as a member of the Christian family of New York and the artist as Kellogg.

  • Provenance:
    Collection of the late Audree and Bryce Chase, Port Royal, South Carolina.
    Amelia Jeffers Auction.

    Lot essay courtesy of Emily C. Esser, American Folk Art Specialist and webmaster of www.paintingsworthlookingat.com:
    What did Daniel Johnson Kellogg contribute to the world of painting? The answer might not be what you think. After a lifetime devoted to the various arts – Kellogg was a portrait painter, daguerreotypist, landscapist, and art instructor – he filed a patent in 1871 for the "fountain paintbrush"! But that was long after he painted the young lady in this portrait, reputedly a member of the Christian family of New York. At that time (probably c. 1849-51) Kellogg was advertising in local newspapers, announcing his arrival with the headline "Encourage the Arts."

    Kellogg brought a great deal of creativity to his portrait of Ms. Christian. The tasseled blue corner curtain, secured with a silver medallion in the corner, is very uncommon in a world of red curtains. That corner and the sitter's orange scarf offset one another in the composition, suggesting the purposeful use of color theory. Her face is sensitively rendered, with realistic skin tones and large, alert eyes. The portrait would work just as well as a tightly cropped close-up, but Kellogg has employed ample negative space to highlight the glimmering orange-and-green scarf. Her garment was probably made out of "shot silk," woven with two colors to make it iridescent.

    The lady's thoughtful countenance is appealing, yet inscrutable. What was she thinking when Kellogg painted her? She seems composed, yet pensive, gazing out from her portrait frame. We are not privy to direct clues, such as the title of her book, but the visible corner of the page shows the dark border of a printed image. The beautiful rectangular pin securing her scarf is mourning jewelry, made with gold and enamel. The jewelry may subtly suggest the loss of her beloved: the plait of hair at the center is light brown, rather than her own dark brown locks.

    Daniel J. Kellogg also lived in Canandaigua, New York, as per the 1840 census, and later moved to Rochester, alternatively listing himself as "patentee photographic instruments" (1861) and "artist" (1863). While we know nothing about his early instruction, his portraiture has a quintessential stylized folk-art feeling, in the vein of Ammi Phillips and John Bradley, fellow New Yorkers. Relatively few of Kellogg's works have surfaced, but he may have been distracted by other pursuits, such as his knack for inventions. It is only a matter of time before we discover more about his intriguing life.

    Image of Kellogg's 1849 advertisement:
    https://americanfolkportraits.org/wiki/Category:Daniel_Johnson_Kellogg
    https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-fredonia-censor/200679500
    Kellogg's 1850s advertisements: https://pioneeramericanphotographers.com/2019/10/06/d-j-kellogg/
    Biography of Harry J. Kellogg (D.J. Kellogg's son): https://www.askart.com/bio/Harry_J_Kellogg/105816/Harry_J_Kellogg
    See the "fountain paintbrush," meticulously illustrated: https://archive.org/details/s607id13664600/page/n191/mode/2up?q=kellogg

    Many thanks to antique jewelry expert Sarah Nehama for the information about Ms. Christian's mourning pin!
    See here to learn more: https://www.incollect.com/articles/in-death-lamented-the-tradition-of-anglo-american-mourning-jewelry
    Two comparable examples:
    https://www.rubylane.com/item/1670195-RLJ-2353/Antique-Enamel-Plaited-Hair-Mourning-Brooch
    https://www.langantiques.com/victorian-mourning-brooch-4.html

    NB: Ms. Christian's first name is not known, but information on the painting's verso states the work was handed down in the Christian family and purchased in 1981 from Frank Christian, a resident of the Canandaigua area. Mr. Christian was said to have been listed as a lawyer in Canandaigua in 1837, having moved to New York from New England. (This information was written on a promotional card for a 1983 antique sale at St. Peters Episcopal Church of Holcomb in East Bloomfield, New York.)
    Genealogical research has not yet revealed a plausible match for this Mr. Christian: the closest contender is Asbury Christian (1807-1887) but he was a farmer, not a lawyer, and his two daughters would have been 15 and 13 in the 1850 census, a bit too young for our portrait subject. Notably, Frank's ancestor Asbury Christian was the youngest of 13 siblings, all with the last name of Christian! So the question about the sitter's identity may lie somewhere within that group.
    https://www.familysearch.org/en/tree/person/about/K27Y-SCG
    Since the portrait descended in the Christian family, it is conceivable that the young lady is from a different branch of the family tree, with a different last name. However, the Frank Christian of Canandaigua, from whom the portrait was purchased, is most likely from this line of descent: he is probably Frank Asbury Christian Jr. (1909-1987).
    https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/30694412/frank_asbury-christian
  • Dimensions: Oil on canvas, 29" x 26". Framed 33.5" x 29".
  • Condition: The absence of a condition report does not imply an object is free of defects. All items may have normal signs of age and wear commensurate with their age; these issues will likely not be mentioned in the condition report. Please contact Eldred's before the auction with any condition questions. Questions about condition will not be answered after purchase. Condition reports are provided as a courtesy, and we are not responsible for any errors or omissions. Important note on frames: Frames are not guaranteed to be in the same condition as they are in the item photograph. Due to handling and shipping, many frames, especially antique ones, are prone to losses. If you have questions about the condition of a frame, please contact us prior to the auction. 

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