Antique Folk Art Miniature Portrait Painting (Signed, James Sanforth Ellsworth)

This watercolor on bone and paper portrait, created by renowned folk artist James Sanford Ellsworth in 1835, captures the charm and unique style of early American folk art. Housed in an eglomisé mat and gilt molded frame, the portrait is a rare example of Ellsworth’s work, showcasing his talent for capturing the simplicity and character of his subjects.

• Condition: The face and shoulders on bone laid onto a paper background; the face has a crack and small spots of pigment loss, minor toning on the background
• Measurements: 4.5 inches tall, 3.25 inches wide
• Dates to: 1835
• Signed: “Sanforth/Ellsworth/1835” l.l.
• Provenance: The Lucy B. Mitchell Collection
• Literature: Illustrated and described in Lucy B. Mitchell, The Paintings of James Sanford Ellsworth, Itinerant Folk Artist, 1802-1978 (Colonial Williamsburg Foundation: Williamsburg, Virginia, 1974), pp. 58-60, fig. A27
• Exhibitions: James Sanford Ellsworth, Itinerant Folk Artist, 1802-1873, Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Collection, Williamsburg, Virginia, October 13–December 1, 1974