Thomas Skynner (American, fl. 1840-52), Miniature Portrait Pair of Mr. and Mrs. John Cullen

Graphite and watercolor on paper, December 31st, 1840, each inscribed "Done by Thomas Skynner" to the lower right corners and inscribed with the sitters "Mr. John. Cullen" and "Mrs. M. Cullen", presented in giltwood frames below glass.

Sheet sizes approximately 6 x 5 in.; Frame dimensions 7 1/4 x 6 in.

From the Estate of the late Nancy Mann, Wilmington, North Carolina

Very little is known about the American artist Thomas Skynner, whose body of work includes at least fifteen other watercolor miniature paintings, and several oils. Some of these can be found in the National Gallery of Art, Washington D.C. Based on dated works by Skynner, he began his career using watercolor and later turned to oil. His sitters have varied geographical origins including Groton, New Hampshire in September of 1846; the Buffalo area of upstate New York in June of 1847; and elsewhere in New York; and Virginia in 1852. This suggests that Skynner was an itinerant artist throughout his career. The portraits of Mr. and Mrs. John Cullen are among his earliest known works, with only one other watercolor miniature portrait of Mr. S. H. King dated 1840, and all other known works dated later in the 1840s and 1850s.

Some toning and minor staining to the sheets, horizontal creases to the lower margin; the frames with abrasions.