John Noyes Morse

Artist Ruth (Henshaw) Bascom 1772 - 1848

Date1846

Terms

Paintings
Graphite
Pastel
Paper
Wayland

Dimensions48.6 x 38.3 x 2.5 cm (19 1/8 x 15 1/16 x 1 in.)

MarkingsThe frame is backed with wood on which is written: "Drawn by Ruth Bascom of my father as a baby of two years old John Noyes Morse - Wayland - whose parents were Jonas Noyes Morse and Sarah Henshaw Scott."

Credit LineJohn Noyes Morse by Ruth Henshaw Bascom, Concord, Ma, 1846. Concord Museum Collection, Gift of Miss Amy Prescott Morse; Pi1010.

Object numberPi1010

DescriptionPastel, graphite, and chalk on paper. Chalk drawing of John Noyes Morse (1844-1935) done by Ruth Bascom, a reknowned portrait artist, as well as the boy's half-great great aunt. The boy was two years old at the sitting, which is said to have been done spontaneously. Profile of a brown haired, blue eyes boy wearing a thin white dress, made high waisted and off the shoulders, with narrow lace at neck and short sleeves. Holds what seem to be a small book. The natural color of the cream white paper has been left as a background for the portrait. Triple and chalked in blue lines outline the cream background. The blue may have been intended to suggest drapery or to outline the background to indicate a chair. The paper on which the portrait was painted was pieced out on the right hand side. Pencil and pastel on paper.

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