Lot 63: JOHN JAMES TRUMBULL ARNOLD (1812-1865)

JOHN JAMES TRUMBULL ARNOLD (1812-1865) PORTRAIT OF MISS MARY C. BARNES DAUGHTER OF COLONEL H.B BARNES, MIDDLE CREEK TOWNSHIP, VIRGINIA, APRIL, 1856 oil on canvas 35 3/4 in. by 31 1/4 in.

Descended in the sitter's family to the present owner.

A native of York County Pennsylvania, John Trumbull Arnold was born on September 29, 1812 and died in 1865. There is evidence that he was actively painting as a youth and worked until shortly after the Civil War. His principal subjects were from the area of York County, Pennsylvania; however, he is also said to have painted in Washington, D.C and West Virginia. Like many painters of the later 19υth century he was constantly re-inventing his technique in order remain competitive against the encroachments of photography. Trumbull's work is refreshing and original; his A Portrait of Mary C. Barnes is a testament to his talent. Painted in April of 1856 when Mary was twelve, she is shown wearing a traditional Mexican serape. Based on what we know, we can assume that her father, Colonel H.B Barnes, fought in the Mexican American War of 1846-1848. The serape was most likely a treasured gift for Mary upon Colonel Barnes return from the war, kept for special occasions like the painting of her portrait by Trumbull in 1856. Many years later Mary would come to marry Samuel Minder of Lower Turkeyfoot, Somerset County, Pennsylvania and mother four children.

A very sophisticated and elegant garment, the Mexican serape has a long and interesting history associated with the production of wool and cotton, two materials commonly used by Mexican weavers for a number of textiles and in rare cases silk. The serape is made in numerous areas of the country, which is why it actually has many different names. The fascinating aspect of the Mexican serape is that it is a perfect blend of weaving traditions from Europe and Mesoamerica. These serapes were worn to high society parties, for walks along the avenues, or simply out for a leisurely stroll. Serapes were so colorful and luxurious that famed artists and travelers from other countries would marvel at their distinct and colorful design. The Mexican serape was even worn by insurgents fighting in the War of Independence along with patriots in wars where the French and Americans fought. This means that the serape was a garment of choice whether a conservative or liberal.