Matthew Harris Jouett 1824 Oil on Canvas Portrait of President James Monroe
The most prized item in my collection, and how I got it is a real "Antiques Roadshow" story. This portrait of President James Monroe by famous Kentucky portrait artist Matthew Harris Jouett (1788-1827) was sitting off in the corner of a high-end estate sale of a prominent family that owned a foundry for several generations out of Wrightsville, PA. The rules of the sale were that no absentee bids or phone bids were allowed. You had to be there to bid. This painting came up very late in the sale, most everyone had gone home. As it turned out, I was the only one in the room willing to take a gamble on it, so I bought it... for $150.
The most interesting aspect of the portrait to me is the degree of softness which which Monroe is portrayed. Most Monroe portraits show him as a glowering, militaristic leader with hard-edged features. Here, he is shown to have some feminine qualities.
The frame is likely original to the painting, although the paint on the frame has been touched up in places. Both frame and canvas are clearly correct in terms of period, and the style is clearly Jouett (click here to compare this portrait with other known Jouett portraits, and with other portraits of President Monroe). I have looked at the canvas underneath and the shape of the painting is oval, just as you see it. The painting measures 17 1/2" by 15". The frame measures 23" by 26". The painting is in good condition, showing some craqueleur and in need of cleaning, but nothing serious. The frame is warped, but not disastrously so.
I do guarantee authenticity, and if you are a museum or historical society I will happily set an appointment to allow your people to come and examine it. I have already shown it to a few prominent estate appraisers and no one has yet refuted its pedigree.
$35,000
Do you have a question about this item? email massadvj@auktiononline.com
