American School (19th century), Portraits of Stephen Pratt and His Wife, Lucinda

Oil on canvas, unsigned, circa 1840, frames with hand-made folk art leather flower appliques.

Stretcher size 29 x 22 3/4 in.; Frame dimensions 35 x 29 in.

By descent through the family of the sitters

These portraits depict Stephen Pratt (1800-1890) and Lucinda Pierce Pratt (1807-1881) of Bolton, New York. Stephen Pratt was involved in the lumber business and mercantile trade, but also served in multiple municipal roles in his community. Both paintings hung in the Pratt family home on Leontine Island, Lake George, New York for generations.

Leather work was a popular hobby during the mid-19th century. Similar examples of this type of floral decoration can be seen on a tinsel painting in the collection of the American Folk Art Museum, New York (accession number 2012.15.31).

Obscuring varnish to each with scattered retouch visible under UV light; some loss to flowers; some surface grime.