FREEHOLD, N.Y. — A pair of folky portraits of a young brother and sister painted by itinerant painter Joseph Whiting Stock has descended in the family for 175 years and after being auctioned on Sunday, December 6, at Carlsen Gallery, the portraits are still together.
From left, Josh and Russ Carlsen stand with the two Joseph Whiting Stock portraits that would go on to lead the auction.
Both works went to the same dealer bidding by phone after heated action in the room, the phones and the Internet. George Pearsall’s portrait went out at $26,910, including buyer’s premium, and Elisabeth Evelyn Pearsall took $24,570.
“They were together for 175 years and they are still together,” said auctioneer Russ Carlsen. “It was a wellfought battle for both lots.”
The circa 1840s oil on canvas paintings crossed the block one after another and had garnered much presale attention, with a number of major dealers coming to the gallery to inspect them. First up was George, wearing a red gown and shown with a cat on his lap and an urn of flowers. Elisabeth is depicted in a blue dress with a bird on her hand, a handbag and the same urn of flowers.
A complete report on the auction will appear in a future edition.
