Description:
Silhouettes were the most expedient and inexpensive form of portraiture available to New Englanders in the early 19th century. Profiles were so cheap, costing about ten cents apiece, that an artist's profit was dependent on making them as quickly as possible. Black oval silhouette of Mary Swan (1783-1806) made of hollow-cut, medium-weight woven paper over black ink embellishment of black silk fabric, and set in an oval brass frame. The daughter of Thomas Swan (1751-1810) and Sarah Speakman Swan, Mary Swan was the aunt of Susan Minot Lane (1832-1893), the life-long companion of Miss Charlotte Alice Baker (1833-1909). According to Miss Lane's research, Mary Swan was engaged to Andrew Sprague of Boston (1780-1803) who died of TB on October 16, 1803, age 23, on the return journey of a long sea voyage. Also see HD 69.0323-HD 69.0326.
Subjects:
Textile fabrics; Brass; Glass; Silk Link to share this object record:
https://museums.fivecolleges.edu/detail.php?t=objects&type=ext&id_number=HD+69.0325 |
