American School 19th Century, A Portrait of Carroll Spence (1818-1896), United States Minister to Turkey

with a typed biographical note for Carroll Spence on verso, pastel and paint on artist board, framed.

21 x 15 inches (sight), 25 1/2 x 19 inches (frame).

From the private collection of Brooke Astor, New York

This lot is located in Philadelphia.

Provenance:

Carroll Spence,

Thence by descent in the Spence and Marshall Families, to Charles Henry Marshall III (1891-1952), thence by descent to his wife, Brooke (Russell) Marshall (1902-2007, later Astor),

A hand-written notation below typed biography reads, "This picture always hung in 'the Green Room' mantelpiece in my grandparents house 1914 N. St, Washington, DC."

Note:

Carroll Spence was born in Baltimore and studied Law at Dickinson College, and later at Mount St. Mary's College where he earned a Masters and a PhD. He was elected to the Maryland State House in 1842. Spence actively campaigned for Franklin Pierce in the election of 1852, and upon the democrat's victory was appointed Minister to the Sublime Porte (Turkish Empire). Serving four years, Spence traveled throughout the Middle East, seeking opportunities for American interests, and eventually negotiated the first United States Treaty with Persia.

American School 19th Century, A Portrait of Carroll Spence (1818-1896), United States Minister to Turkey

American School 19th Century, A Portrait of Carroll Spence (1818-1896), United States Minister to Turkey