Circa 1840, oil on canvas, a somewhat naive depiction of a seated young man holding a letter addressed to "Zion's Watchman / New York." Presented in a period, possibly original, gilt wooden frame. The canvas carries the stencil of its maker, Edward Dechaux of New York. The sitter here is likely La Roy Sunderland (1804 - 1885), publisher of the Methodist antislavery periodical "Zion's Watchman" from 1835 - 1842. Sunderland's belief system underwent radical changes during the course of his life. An evangelical Christian at first, he turned to spiritualism and phrenology before embracing atheism in old age.

SS 29.5 x 23.5 in.; DOA 35.5 x 29.5 in.

Allover craquelure; slight slack to canvas; paint flake near elbow above frame; black light inspection reveals an old varnish and possible area of touch-up to sitter's jacket by elbow; slight yellowing to varnish; some minor nicks to frame.

$600 - 900