Lot 215: *MICHELE FELICE CORNÈ 1752 - 1838

oil on canvasinscribed Aetat.62/M.C. pinxit Salem/Nov'r, 1800. The sitter is depicted having documents tied with redstring on the desk. Partially visible under a ledger aretwo letters inscribed to Mr. John Appleton/Mer(chant), Salem.John Appleton, born in Cambridge circa 1738, was one oftwelve children of the Reverend Nathaniel Appleton. Hegraduated from Harvard in 1757, settled in Salem thefollowing year, and set up as an "English goods merchant,"his occupation until his death in 1817. \John Appleton's father Nathanielwas minister of the Cambridge church for 66 years, from1717 until his death in 1784. It was for him thatChristopher Townsend, the Newport cabinetmaker, andSamuel Casey, the noted silversmith, made and signed thesilver-mounted dome-top secretary bookcase sold atSotheby's in January 1999, Sale 7253, Lot 704, for$7,500,000, the second-highest price ever paid for apiece of American furniture.Michel Cornè was born on the island of Elba, butmade Salem, Massachusetts, his home. He executed a numberof commissions for the Derby family, as well as for otherdistinguished Salem citizens.