Lot 84: Attributed to John Greenwood (Massachusetts, 1727-1792 Portrait of Thomas Child (16-- 1751), c. 1750. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, 36 x 28

Attributed to John Greenwood (Massachusetts, 1727-1792

Portrait of Thomas Child (16-- 1751), c. 1750. Unsigned. Oil on canvas, 36 x 28 in., in a period black and gold-painted, molded and carved wood frame with gold-painted liner, together with with seven 18th/19th century books from the family library, a small watercolor on paper portrait of Child's sister, six family table linens, and framed watercolor on paper painting of the Child family crest. Condition: Good, craquelure, likely cleaned and varnished.

Provenance: Family descent.

Note: According to a Hale/Child family history, Thomas Child was the grandson of Robert Child, Earl of Tilney, who emigrated to Boston, Massachusetts, prior to 1692, married twice, first to Margaret Hillard, daughter of the pastor of the Old South Church and Vice-President of Harvard University with no issue, then to Susanna Hatch on August 24, 172-. They had five children, one of whom is Thomas, the young man portrayed, Lot 83. It is thought that the portrait of the elder Thomas Child was painted around the same time as his son's portrait, which is dated "1750," and a year before the elder Thomas died in 1751.