Lot 209: Attributed to James Sullivan Lincoln (Rhode Island, 1811-1888) Pair of Portraits of Sisters Emma Jane and Martha Orrell, b. Providence,

Attributed to James Sullivan Lincoln (Rhode Island, 1811-1888)

Pair of Portraits of Sisters Emma Jane and Martha Orrell, b. Providence, Rhode Island. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, and oil on panel, one girl portrayed wearing a green dress and blue beaded necklace holding a peach, the other girl is wearing a blue dress and a pink beaded necklace holding a doll, 24 x 20, 24 x 19 3/4 in., respectively, in period flame mahogany veneer frames; see lot 210 for portraits of the girls' parents Robert Orrell and Ann Walsh Dickens. Condition: The portrait on canvas (girl in green) is relined, with retouch to hair, specks on face, repaint to much of dress, some spots to background; the portrait on panel (girl in blue) is cleaned, minor retouch to hair, area of background sky c.r., doll's hair, minor scattered retouch to background.

Provenance: Family descent until 1991, where they were sold, also with portraits of their parents, Robert Orrell and his wife Ann Walsh Dickens, at Weschler's, Washington, D.C., September-October 1991; then sold at Christie's, October 21, 1995, the girls, Lot 10, the parents lot 40.

Note: James Sullivan Lincoln was an accomplished Rhode Island painter who produced an impressive body of work during his sixty-year career, including eleven portraits of Rhode Island's governors, which now hang in the Rhode Island state house. Many other works are held by the Rhode Island Historical Society, and Brown University.

Emma Jane and Martha Orrell were the daughters of Robert and Ann Walsh Dickens (who was reportedly related to author Charles Dickens). At some point the family, or part of the family, moved to Philadelphia, as some of the family members are listed in the 1870 census. Their parents are listed as born in England, their father Robert is listed as age 75 and his occupation is "Reed Maker." Their mother Ann is listed as age 62 and a housekeeper. Marsha (probably Martha misspelled) is listed as 25 years old and born in Rhode Island. Emma Jane is reported to have died at a young age and her portrait painted posthumously.