: A folk portrait attributed to Sheldon Peck, an itinerant,
self-taught portrait painter of the mid-Nineteenth Century, was
the top lot at Duane Merrill's July 22 auction, selling for
$220,000, including the firm's ten percent buyer's premium.
Boston-based dealer Stephen Score won the painting following a
lengthy duel with another phone bidder and much interest among
major Americana dealers.
The Nineteenth Century oil on board depicts a gentleman in a
chair, probably a member of the consignor's family, according to
Linus Leavens at Duane Merrill & Company.
"The painting came from a family in New York," said Leavens. "It
was discovered when a framed Civil War roster fell off the wall
and broke, revealing the painting that had been used as a
backboard." This was not unusual, said Leaven, because many of
Peck's portraits were brushed onto wood panels. "The family made
inquiries and found us because we had sold a Sheldon Peck earlier
this year." In February, Merrill sold a folk portrait of a young
girl attributed to Peck for $84,700.
The portrait of the gentleman was in "absolute untouched"
condition, according to Leaven. "There was still a little bit of
the roster stuck to the painting, but we didn't touch it."
For information, 802-878-2625 or www.merrillsauction.com.
