Lot 210: Attributed to James Sullivan Lincoln (Rhode Island, 1811-1888) Pair of Portraits of Robert Orrell and His Wife Ann Walsh Dickens of Pro

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

Pair of Portraits of Robert Orrell and His Wife Ann Walsh Dickens of Providence, Rhode Island. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, 28 x 24 in., in period matching flame mahogany veneer frames; see lot 209 for two portraits of of the couple's daughters. Condition: Relined and retouch to both portraits.

Provenance: Family descent until 1991, where they were sold, with portraits of their daughters Emma Jane and Martha 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, and after a time, to the consignor. Coincidently both pairs of portraits came to this auction from different consignors, see lot 209.

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.

Robert Orrell and his wife Ann Walsh Dickens (purportedly a cousin of author Charles Dickens) resided in Providence, Rhode Island, then moved at some point to Philadelphia, where they are listed in the 1870 Philadelphia census as born in England, Robert is listed as age 75 and his occupation is "Reed Maker." Ann is listed as age 62 and a housekeeper. One of the daughters, Marsha (probably Martha misspelled) is listed as 25 years old and born in Rhode Island. The other daughter Emma Jane died at a young age.