Oil on panel, unsigned, mounted within a later but antique oval frame, frame verso with circa 1900 artisan's label, and ink inscribed biographical information related to the sitter.

Frame dimensions 6 1/2 x 5 3/8 in.; sight size 4 1/2 x 3 1/2 in.

Collection of a Gentleman

Although completed on panel, the painting style, time period, and location do align with Jewett's own portrait practice. William Smith Jewett became a prominent American portrait painter during the mid-1800s. He was born in South Dover, New York in 1812, and was painting portraits there by 1833. Jewett studied at the National Academy of Design, enrolling in the Antique Class in 1838, and the following spring he began exhibiting portraits at the Academy's annual exhibitions. Early in his career he was commissioned to paint the portrait of the governor of New York, which reinforced his position as a painter in the New York area. It is possible that Jewett may have also completed this portrait around the 1840s before his move to San Francisco, California where he took up further portrait business and tried gold-mining. Jewett moved back to New York City and finally to Springfield, Massachusetts around 1869.

Jonas Phillips Phoenix (1788-1859) was elected as a Whig to the Twenty-eighth Congress from March 4, 1843 until March 3, 1845. He was a member of the New York State Assembly (New York Co., 1st D.) in 1848, serving in the 71st New York State Legislature. Phoenix was again elected to the House of Representatives, serving from March 4, 1849 until March 3, 1851 as part of the Thirty-first Congress.

Paperboard backing glued to frame and with some areas of loss; painting has masking varnish, showing no areas of retouch under UV light.

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