att. Joshua Johnson (MD, circa 1765 - after 1826), A Pair of Portraits

Oil on canvas (lined), unsigned, presented in period appropriate hardwood frames. Both sitters depicted half length and at a three quarter view as is typical for Johnson's portraits. The woman wears a finely detailed cameo brooch on her lace collar and the man with high starched collar.

Stretcher size 26 x 22 in.; Frame size 31.25 x 27.5 in.

Private Southern Collection

Joshua Johnson is credited as the earliest documented professional African-American painter. He advertised himself as a "self-taught genius" in the Baltimore Intelligencer on December 19, 1798. While there is some question regarding his cultural identity, he was a successful portrait painter and made a living for his family by painting other affluent members of Baltimore society.

Areas of over-cleaning; both with re-touch visible under UV light (man with retouch affecting much of face, left of face and scattered within clothes and background; woman with retouch in face and scattered throughout with larger areas to left and around head); minor rubbing and nicking to frames.

$2,000 - 4,000