Winter Associates, Inc.

Vethake Family, c. 1825 NY - $1,000-3,000

Lot 159: Pair of early 19th C. American portraits of bride and groom, physician John William Vethake (1798 - 1876) and Sarah Frances Brush Vethake (1797 -1887), oil on canvas in original gilded frames, circa 1825, unsigned, portrait of John Vethake depicts a young gentleman with chestnut brown hair and large eyes, ruffled undershirt with brown overcoat, wear to edges where canvas meets frame; portrait of wife Sarah Brush Vethake depicts a young woman with mahogany colored hair and blue eyes, black jewelry and dress with bow, seated in upholstered chair with drapery and window view in background, area of discoloration at neck and near border, both portraits relined and with expected wear including: areas of minor craquelure, damages to frame, not examined out of frame, canvas size:28 ¾" h. x 24" w.; frame size: 34" h. x 29 ¼" w. [Family Provenance: John William Vethake (JWV) was born August 21st, 1798 in Newark, New Jersey to parents to Frederich Albrecht Vethaken (FAV) and Maria Johanna Jansen (MJJ), one of eight children, with only five surviving childhood. The family, previously occupying homes in South America and New Jersey, moved to New York City in 1800, at 140 Greenwich St.  JWV restablished his childhood friendship with Sarah Frances Brush (SFB)of Amenia, NY, and married her on Feburary 24th, 1824. JWV was a physican for most of his life. It is believed that Sarah's parents, Lemuel and Ame(y) Brush had portraits painted of the newlyweds. JHC was able to purchase them at an auction in Chillicothe. He had them conserved by Joseph Amarotico at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in November 1969. An art appraiser Charles Sellers in Philadelphia said they might have been painted by Aaron H. Corwine from Cincinnati, Ohio. It is of interest to note that the Vetake Family resided at 140 Greenwich St. and the portrait artist James Herring had a studio at 445 Greenwich St. JWV and SFBV had ten live births but only four lived through infancy, one of which, William James Vethake (WJV), fought in the Civil War, a private in the 5th Regiment, New York Infantary Company 'A'. JWV died on June 7th, 1876. Sarah Frances Brush was born in 1797, the last of eight children born to Lemuel Brush (1745 -1831) and Ame Holmes (b. 1860), in Amenia, New York.  She died November 2nd, 1887 in Chillicothe, Ohio. Descent through the family to current owners]

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