Attributed to Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828)

Portrait of Mrs. Isaac Chauncey
Circa 1818
oil on panel
25 1/2 x 20 3/4 inches (sight).

Catherine Sickles (circa 1778-1855) married American naval commander Isaac Chauncey (1772-1840) around 1794. The couple lived in Fairfield, Connecticut and had three children, Charles W. Chauncey, John S. Chauncey, and Peter S. Chauncey. Isaac Chauncey served during the Franco-American War, both Barbary Wars, and the War of 1812, where he famously commanded all naval forces on both Lake Ontario and Lake Erie. Following his accomplishments on the Great Lakes, Isaac was named commodore and was given command of the New York navy yards.

Around 1818, Gilbert Stuart painted a distinguished portrait of Isaac on panel, and he likely executed this portrait of Catherine at the same time. Isaac’s portrait was given to Secretary of the Navy Robert Smith, thence to the Lyceum of the Brooklyn, New York Navy Yard in 1842. It was later transferred to the U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, as discussed in Lawrence Park’s Gilbert Stuart: An Illustrated Descriptive List of his Works, Vol. 1 (1926, New York), number 150, page 229. Catherine’s portrait, by contrast, remained in the family, passing from her son Peter Schermerhorn Chauncey (1810-1866) to his daughter Augusta Chauncey Anderson (1835-1919) and then to her son, Peter Chauncey Anderson (1868-1933). Peter’s two surviving children, Elbert Chauncey Anderson (1903-1941) and Olive Yale Anderson Wood (1907-1987), inherited the painting and shared in its ownership. While in their possession, Catherine’s portrait was exhibited twice, first at the Union Club in 1934 and again at the Newport, Rhode Island gallery of M. Knoedler & Company in 1936.

The associated Newport exhibition catalogue, Portraits by Gilbert Stuart, contains a brief essay: “Mrs. Chauncey was the wife of Commander Isaac Chauncey, who was acting Captain of the Chesapeake in 1802, and later Commander of New York Navy Yard; from 1833 to 1840 he was the President of the Board of Navy Commissioners. . . [The painting] was inherited by Mr. E. Chauncey Anderson, who was the great-great-grandson of the sitter; and it is owned jointly with Mrs. Horatio C. Wood. III, who is also the present owner of the crescent pin worn by the subject of the picture.” (Portraits by Gilbert Stuart (1936, Newport), number 5, pages 4—5). Most recently, the painting was owned by direct descendants of Olive Yale Anderson Wood and Horatio C. Wood III.

Framed: 33 3/8 x 29 inches.

In overall good and stable condition. Light surface grime present, with areas of perpendicular crackle to background, and minor drying cracks visible to sitter's face. Vertical crack visible to ground at upper right, with additional vertical hairlines along upper edge of panel. Gapping along left vertical edge of frame, with abrasions and paint loss along rabbet lines. Black tape applied to edges of board. Under UV light examination, significant inpainting visible throughout, both in the background and to the sitter's face, neck, and dress. Minor losses throughout frame.

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Ben Fisher

Managing Director, Furniture and Decorative Arts

[email protected]312.447.3270

Mr. Fisher rejoined the firm in 2019 after working as a specialist in the American Furniture and Folk Art department at Sotheby’s New York. His areas of expertise include 18th, 19th, and 20th century American, Continental, and English furniture, decorative and folk art. Before coming to Hindman in 2013, Mr. Fisher worked in European Furniture and Decorative Arts in Philadelphia. He began his career working for a prints dealer focusing on works from the 16th through the 20th centuries.

Leah Vogelpohl

AVP, Specialist, American Furniture, Folk, and Decorative Arts

[email protected]513.666.4960

Ms. Vogelpohl joined the firm in 2013 as a cataloger in the American and European Furniture and Decorative Arts department. She became a department specialist in 2017, focusing on American decorative arts and silver. She received a BA from the College of Charleston and an MLITT in Art History from the University of Glasgow.

Please email for any additional information or questions you may have regarding this lot.

American Furniture, Folk & Decorative Arts

Attributed to Gilbert Stuart (American, 1755-1828)

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