Antique Georgian Portraits Provincial Folk Art Oil Paintings, 18th Century - a Pair

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ANTIQUE ORIGINAL PAINTINGS DEPICTING A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUPLE, OIL ON CANVAS LAID TO BOARD

Whilst not technically classed as portrait miniatures … Read more ANTIQUE ORIGINAL PAINTINGS DEPICTING A NORTHAMPTONSHIRE COUPLE, OIL ON CANVAS LAID TO BOARD

Whilst not technically classed as portrait miniatures in the true sense these portraits are pretty tiny and utterly charming. Painted in a folky, slightly skew whiff style, typical of the Georgian Provincial School.

Depicting Archibald and Sarah Morton of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire. Archibald Wilson Esq. was probably born around 1745 as he was known to be 85 in 1830 and was a banker. Susan Wilson probably married Archibald in the mid to late 18th century. They had six children together.

Both portraits are inscribed verso with a wider family history, typed by different descendants of the sitters. Further research notes to this can be seen below on the wider family tree.

The portraits probably date from the late 18th Century period, Circa 1790 during the reign of George III.

They are framed in matching simple and complimentary gilt frames.

The paintings are in good vintage condition with no serious issues and only minor wear commensurate with age. The is some craquelure present on both.

Approximate measurements each: Frames - 17cm x 14cm x 2cm. Paintings - 13cm x 10cm.
Height: 6.7 in (17 cm) Width: 5.52 in (14 cm) Depth: 0.79 in (2 cm)

Further Family Tree Research Notes:

“The sitters belong to the Morton family of Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, a provincial banking and professional family with well-documented connections across England and into Scotland. Archibald Morton was the son of Archibald Morton of Westmain, near Glasgow (d.1796) and Agnes Stuart (d.1772), indicating Scottish origins for the family before its establishment in Northamptonshire.

Archibald Morton married Susan Wilson and had six children. Their daughter Mary Morton married William Mather(d.1822), second son of Benjamin Mather and Sarah Perry, at Wellingborough on 17th November 1809. Through this marriage the sitters are directly connected to the wider Mather family of Lancashire, a long-established English dissenting lineage, one branch of which settled in New England in the 17th century and included the prominent figures Increase Mather (1639-1723), President of Harvard

College, and Cotton Mather (1663-1728). Mary Morton and William Mather had a large family of nine children between 1810 and 1822, with descendants extending into the later 19th century and beyond. Other branches of the Morton family established connections in Windsor and London, with one line later emigrating to Australia.” See less