Ruth Henshaw Bascom

Ruth Henshaw Bascom (American,1772-1848) Lot of Four Profile Portraits of the PhillipsFamily: Israel Phillips (1771-1844), brother-in-law of the artist;his wife Mercy Bascom Phillips (1774-1853), sister of the artist'shusband (Ezekiel Lysander Bascom), their son Simon Cady Phillips(1819-1906), nephew of the artist, and his wife Rossy Sofia BallardPhillips (1818-1875). The portrait of Israel Phillips faintlyinscribed and dated, possibly by the artist, "Mrs. R.H. Bascom ----Bernardston 1842," and in a later hand "Israel Phillips ofGreenfield sketched by Mrs. Ruth Bascom of Bernardston June 1842"in pencil on the reverse; the other three portraits also withidentifying inscriptions on the backboards. Pastel with graphite onpaper, the portrait of Rossy Phillips with segments of gold foilapplied to her necklace, the first three portraits measuring 19 x14, the portrait of Rossy Phillips measures 18 x 13 in., all inoriginal wood frames. Condition: Foxing, the portrait of Mercy B.Phillips was extended by the artist with a strip of paper. Provenance: Descended through the family of the sitters. Note: Israel Phillips was born in Oxford, Worcester County,Massachusetts on April 7, 1771. He married Mercy Bascom, born Feb.7, 1774, in Gill, Massachusetts, on Nov. 6, 1794, and together theyhad eleven children. Their youngest child, a son named Simon CadyPhillips, was born August 8, 1819 in Greenfield, Massachusetts. Hemarried Rossy Sophia Ballard on January 27, 1847, and they residedin Gill, Massachusetts. The 1880 census lists Simon C. Phillips ageas 60, was a widower, (his wife Rossy died November 9, 1874). Hisoccupation was a carpenter. The artist Ruth Henshaw Bascom wasrelated by marriage to the older woman portrayed here, Mercy BascomPhillips. Mercy was the older sister of Ruth's second husband,Ezekiel Lysander Bascom. Ruth Bascom kept an extensive diary, whichshe maintained from 1789 through 1846. References to the portraitsof Israel, Mercy, and Simon Phillips are found in a diary dated forJune 1842, and were done June 1, 3, and 7. The diaries Ruth Bascomkept are now archived at the American Antiquarian Society,Manuscripts Department, Worcester, Massachusetts. It is not knownwhen the likeness of Rossy was done. She was not married to Simonin 1842, and would not be until five years later on January 27,1847 . Estimate $30,000-50,000 The portrait of Israel Phillips is inscribed on the back inpencil "Israel Phillips of Greenfield Mass. Sketched June 1842 byMrs. Ruth Bascom." - Mercy Bascom Phillips- inscribed in pencil on the backboard:"Mercy Bascom wife of Israel Phillips mother of Simon C. Phillipsyoungest of seven brothers and one sister, of Gill and Greenfield/grandmother of Emma J. Phillips Blake Gill (Massachusetts)Great-grandmother of Ernest E. Blake of Gill/Great-greatgrandmother of Clesson Phillips Blake of Gill and Ruth J. BlakeCook of Gill and -----sbury.; Simon Phillips- the back of theportrait of is inscribed in pencil "Simon Phillips sketched by Mrs.Ruth Bascom 1842," the backboard is inscribed in pencil andoverinscribed in pen "Simon C. Phillips (August 8 1819) Born 1819died 1906."; Rossy Ballard Phillips-The backboard is inscribed"Rossy Ballard Phillips wife of Simon Cady Phillips of Gill, Mass.by Ruth Bascom 1842. and ''"Property of Ernest E. Blake Gill,Mass."

MEASUREMENTS measurements 16 3/4 by 12 1/4 in. alternate measurements 42.5 by 31.1cm DESCRIPTION Inscribed in pencil on the backing: Charles Churchill Damon, Ashby, Mass., Age 1 year, 1814. Appears to retain original frame and pine backboard, as well as original glass. pastel and graphite on paper

MEASUREMENTS measurements 15 1/2 by 11 1/2 in. alternate measurements 39.8 by 29.2cm DESCRIPTION cut paper with pastel and pencil mounted against colored paper PROVENANCE The portrait descended in the family of the sitter to the present owner, whose family acquired the home of Ruth Henshaw Bascom and her minister husband in Phillipston, Massachusetts in 1950. CATALOGUE NOTE Lydia Luana Thompson was the daughter of Daniel Thompson and Lydia Sawyer; born October 5, 1819 in Phillipston. She married Harrison Ward (son of Nahum Ward and Dinah Rich (December 28, 1841. She died April 30, 1898 at Athol, Massachusetts.

artist's dates 1772-1848 material/medium pastel on paper, cut to profile with appliquèd gold foil necklace detailed description painted 1832; in a period frame. charles is the brother of helen mann rugg (lot 19); bascom's journal records his image as having been taken on several dates in 1832. the back of the portrait is inscribed charles in pencil along the top of his head and the bottom of his shoulder, most likely by mrs. bascom herself.

Mixed media profile portrait of a woman, 18" x 13".