Lot 170: Virginia portrait, Cephas Thompson, young

Virginia portrait, Cephas Thompson, young gentleman with a book, circa 1809-1812, unsigned, oil on canvas, attributed to Cephas Thompson, Massachusetts, 1775-1856, unframed, 30 x 24 in.; accompanied by a letter from The National Portrait Gallery's Deborah Sisum stating work is believed to be that of Cephas Thompson and the justification. The lot is also accompanied by a portion of an article on Cephas Thompson prepared for the Journal of Early Southern Decorative Arts. Lined, restretched on newer stretcher, crackle, retouch proper left shoulder, upper right edge, within hair at center, top edge, throughout jacket and small portion of proper right face affecting approximately 10 percent of surface.

Records from Cephas Thompson's memorandum of portraits indicates he was painting in Alexandria, Richmond and Norfolk, Virginia during the years 1809-1812.