Among my favorite finds ever I think, and just the sort of early theorem painting I am always wanting to find. New England c. 1815-30 I know for sure, and the seller I purchased it from bought it in the early 1980s at auction from Eldred's on Cape Cod. I love the directness of the gaze of our woman in blue with little lamb wrapped in her arms--seeming a picture of gentleness and goodness, and yet also looking perhaps just a bit defiant, as if to say 'don't you dare try to take my lamb.' And, it appears, the sheep just to her left would quite like to have her lamb back! Wonderful rich green trees and shurbs and grass framing them on all sides, and with painted borders of the velvet showing the painting was not trimmed. In a period gold painted frame with wooden back, just wonderful.
Framed: 12" x 9 15/16". Painting: 9 5/8" x 7 1/2". Very good condition, no holes or other issues at all, and very clean inside the frame, easily removed. Some glare in photos, shot through glass. There is an old split in the wood backing behind it, no real matter, and a small area of surface loss to the gold over plaster at top of the frame, which chipped just a bit more while I was photographing, see detail photo; minor.
