Watercolor on paper, the stone memorial inscribed "NB and HB / In Memory of Capt Noah Brooks, who died 28th Augst 1789, aged 43 Ano. 9 Mo. and of / Mrs. Hannah Brooks who died 18th March 1814, aged 59 Ano 9 Mo. / The hardest heart dissolves to softness here, / And piety applauds the falling tear.," the églomisé border inscribed "Painted by Sarah Ann Holmes at Mrs. Saunders & Miss Beach's Academy," presented within the original gilt frame.

DOA 18 3/8 x 21 in.

Private Collection, Lynchburg, Virginia

In 1803 Judith Foster Saunders and Clementina Beach moved to Dorchester, Massachusetts, and started a school for young ladies. They used the services of John Doggett for much of the framing of the watercolor and needlework pieces. The framing included glass mats that had the name of the student as well as the name of the school, which has made it easy to identify pieces from their school.

Sarah Ann Holmes, daughter of the Honorable John Holmes and Sarah Ann “Sally” Books Holmes of Kingston, Massachusetts and Alfred, Maine was born 1806. She married the Honorable Daniel Goodenow, Justice of the Supreme Court of Maine and died November 2, 1840.

Examples of framed needlework pictures from this academy are in numerous important public collections including Winterthur Museum and the National Museum of American History.

Crack to glass at upper left corner; toning to sheet; small loose piece of sheet in upper frame; several scattered white spots to sheet. Not examined out of the frame.

$800 - 1,200