Matthew Pratt Sold at Auction Prices

Painter, b. 1734 - d. 1805

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  • PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY, "FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY", C. 1776..
    Dec. 10, 2024

    PORTRAIT OF CAPTAIN JOHN BARRY, "FATHER OF THE AMERICAN NAVY", C. 1776..

    Est: $20,000 - $40,000

    Attributed to Matthew Pratt (American, 1734-1805). "Portrait of Captain John Barry, Continental Navy, c. 1776." Oil on canvas, 26 x 20 inches, laid-down on mahogany panel, within contemporary carved and gilded frame. John Barry (1745-1803) was an Irish-born American naval officer who served in the Continental Navy during the American Revolutionary War and in the United States Navy during the Quasi-War with France. He was the first officer, military or naval, to receive a commission from the Continental Congress, signed by John Hancock and dated 7 December 1775. Barry's first command was the 14-gun "Lexington", also the first ship to be commissioned in the Continental Navy, transferring to the brig "Delaware" in 1777. While commanding those two vessels, he enjoyed success in the capture of several Royal Navy and Loyalist vessels. In 1778, Barry assumed his third command, the Continental frigate "Raleigh" capturing three prizes before being run aground while fighting an action on September 27th. Before escaping, he and his crew attempted to scuttle the ship but were unsuccessful and she was later raised and taken into the Royal Navy. His final command in the Continental Navy was the frigate "Alliance" and he was seriously wounded in her while capturing two Royal Navy sloops on 29 May 1781. Barry and the "Alliance" won the final American naval victory in an action against the British frigate "Sybil" on 10 March 1783. That ship's commander stated that "he had never seen a ship so ably fought as the Alliance" and that "every quality of a great commander was brought out with extraordinary brilliancy" by Barry in fighting his ship. In 1797, he became the first commissioned officer in the United States Navy with the rank of commodore, but his tenure as senior officer would be short-lived, cut short by an untimely death in 1803. This fine portrait of "The Father of the American Navy" was probably painted shortly after Barry received his commission. He is wearing a practical undress uniform for shipboard duty, being an all-blue coat trimmed with gilt-brass, "fouled anchor" buttons of a form adopted by American naval officers during the war, frequently found on sites associated with both the Continental Navy and Army. The portrait, long attributed to Philadelphia artist Charles Willson Peale, was exhibited in the Peale exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in 1923. Recent research suggests that the work was more likely painted by Matthew Pratt, another Philadelphia artist who, like Peale, had earlier studied under Benjamin West in London; the influence of West can be seen in the work of both artists. PROVENANCE: Barry died without issue and this portrait, his sword, and his naval papers descended collaterally in the family until the 20th century. The sword was sold at auction by a family member during the Great Depression and is now in the John F. Kennedy Presidential Library. The portrait and papers descended to Barry Hayes Hepburn (1886-1966). Barry's naval papers were given to the Independence Seaport Museum by the family after Mr. Hepburn's death and the portrait privately sold by the family some years later; acquired from a Pennsylvania estate in 2022. CONDITION: The work was restored in 1937 by Mrs. Hannah Horner and probably was cleaned earlier in its history as well; leaving it perhaps with less vibrancy than when first painted nearly 250 years ago; lined; examination under UV light shows scattered inpainting.

    Morphy Auctions
  • Matthew Pratt Oil on Canvas Portrait
    Feb. 26, 2021

    Matthew Pratt Oil on Canvas Portrait

    Est: $4,000 - $6,000

    Matthew Pratt (Pennsylvania, 1734-1805), oil on canvas portrait of Mdme. Barbara (Erb) Forney, signed on the canvas "Madame Barbara Forney Lancaster 1732 M.Pratt Pinxt." a wood plaque states "Married in 1745 Peter Forney (1723-1798) Painted in Lancaster in 1762 by Matthew Pratt (1734-1805), mounted in its original gilt frame 28" x 24" sight size / 34.75" x 30.5" overall Matthew Pratt was born in Philadelphia and apprenticed to his uncle, James Claypool, Sr.

    Wiederseim Associates, Inc.
  • PORTRAIT OF A GIRL IN WHITE AND BLUE SATIN HOLDING SPRIGS OF FLOWERS, CIRCA 1780. ATTRIBUTED TO MATTHEW PRATT (AMERICAN 1734-1805).
    Oct. 29, 2017

    PORTRAIT OF A GIRL IN WHITE AND BLUE SATIN HOLDING SPRIGS OF FLOWERS, CIRCA 1780. ATTRIBUTED TO MATTHEW PRATT (AMERICAN 1734-1805).

    Est: $2,500 - $4,000

    Oil on canvas, 23 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches. Provenance: Hirsch & Adler Galleries, New York.

    Bourgeault-Horan Antiquarians
  • AMERICAN SCHOOL, EARLY NINETEENTH-CENTURY, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WESLEY JARVIS (AMERICAN, 1781-1839)
    Apr. 26, 2016

    AMERICAN SCHOOL, EARLY NINETEENTH-CENTURY, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WESLEY JARVIS (AMERICAN, 1781-1839)

    Est: €1,500 - €2,500

    AMERICAN SCHOOL, EARLY NINETEENTH-CENTURY, ATTRIBUTED TO JOHN WESLEY JARVIS (AMERICAN, 1781-1839) A family group Oil on canvas, unlined Unframed John Wesley Jarvis was a prominent American portrait painter. He started his artistic career in Philadelphia, working with the portrait painter, Matthew Pratt (1734-1805) and later with Edward Savage (1761-1817). He moved to New York in 1801. He began as an engraver and painter of miniatures and silhouettes in partnership with Joseph Wood. He progressed to painting portraits in oils and enjoyed great success. He later worked in New Orleans, Baltimore and Charleston. By 1814 he was again based in New York and was commissioned to paint a series of full-length portraits of the heroes of the war of 1812. He painted images of the prominent citizens of New York, including John Jacob Astor (1763-1848), and the author, James Fennimore Cooper (1789-1851). For a time Thomas Sully (1783-1872) was a studio assistant. Works by Jarvis can be seen at the New York Historical Society and the Metropolitan Museum. Worldwide shipping available. It is advisable to send shipping enquiries to shipping@sheppards.ie prior to 26 April 2016.

    Sheppards
  • Matthew Pratt (1734-1805), portrait of morgan lewis (1754-1844) at age 42, Signed and dated, "M. Pratt 1796," oil on canvas, framed, ha
    Nov. 14, 2013

    Matthew Pratt (1734-1805), portrait of morgan lewis (1754-1844) at age 42, Signed and dated, "M. Pratt 1796," oil on canvas, framed, ha

    Est: $5,000 - $8,000

    Matthew Pratt (1734-1805) portrait of morgan lewis (1754-1844) at age 42 Signed and dated, "M. Pratt 1796," oil on canvas, framed, handwritten inscription transcribed "from original stretcher" identifying sitter. 25 1/4 in. x 19 3/8 in. (sight)

    Freeman's
  • ATTRIBUTED TO MATTHEW PRATT 1734 - 1805
    Jan. 20, 2012

    ATTRIBUTED TO MATTHEW PRATT 1734 - 1805

    Est: $6,000 - $8,000

    PROPERTY FROM AN IMPORTANT AMERICAN COLLECTOR PORTRAIT OF MRS. ELIAS BOUDINOT Painted circa 1785. Hannah Stockton, daughter of John and Abigail (Philips) Stockton, born July 21, 1736, at Princeton, New Jersey, died October 28, 1808, at Burlington, New Jersey. She was a sister of Richard Stockton, signer of the Declaration of Independence from New Jersey. On April 21, 1762, she was married to Elias Boudinot (1740-1821), who had studied law with her brother, practised in New Jersey, and served as delegate to Congresss from New Jersey, 1778-79 and 1781-84. He was chosen president of Congress in 1782, and in that capacity signed the Treaty of Peace with England. After the adoption of the Constitution, he was elected to the First, Second and Third Congresses, serving from 1789 to 1795. Appointed by Washington in 1795 to succeed David Rittenhouse as Director of the Mint in Philadelphia, he held that office until July, 1805, when he resigned and spent the remainder of his life at Burlington, New Jersey. He was a founder and the first president of the American Bible Society. Oil on canvas 34 in. by 29 3/4 in.

    Sotheby's
  • PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR MATTHEW PRATT 1734-1805 PORTRAIT OF JAMES STANHOPE CLAYPOOL
    May. 19, 2005

    PROPERTY OF A PRIVATE COLLECTOR MATTHEW PRATT 1734-1805 PORTRAIT OF JAMES STANHOPE CLAYPOOL

    Est: $30,000 - $50,000

    Inscribed on the verso: James Stanhope Claypoole, age 24. Depicted seated at a rare Virginia Chippendale table with rectangular box-drawer oil on canvas PROVENANCE Vose Galleries, Boston CATALOGUE NOTE On what appear to be the original stretchers; in the original giltwood frame with an exhibition plaque: James Stanhope Claypool/ Matthew - Pratt / Philadelphia 1734 - 1825. Matthew Pratt (1734-1805). Portrait painter, born in Philadelphia September 23, 1734. From 1749 to 1755 he served his apprenticeship with his uncle, James Claypoole, limner and general painter, and in 1758 he began his career as a portrait painter in Philadelphia. From 1764 to 1766 he studied under Benjamin West in London and the following year and a half he spent in Bristol. After his return to America in 1768 Pratt spent most of his time in Philadelphia, though he is known to have visited England and Ireland in 1770, NYC in 1772, and Virginia in 1773. During the 1780's he added sign painting to his repertory. He died in Philadelphia January 9, 1805. Sawitzky, Matthew Pratt, 1734-1805, chronology and checklist, 43 plates; Flexner, The Light of Distant Skies, biblio., 265. - Excerpted from The New York Historical Society's Dictionary of American Artists.

    Sotheby's
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