Oil on Board Portrait of Gentleman with Tiny Hand

Circa 2nd Quarter 19th Century: This small 12.5" x 9.5" oil on sigle thick chamfered tulip poplar board folk art portrait of a gentleman housed in a 18" x 15" period (and possibly original) lemon gold frame is just the right size: not too big and not too small! This is a fine and pleasing example of early American folk art portraiture depicting a well-dressed seated man, his small out of proportion hand draped comfortably over the sofa's arm. The subject's face is well done with expressive features and healthy red cheeks, and the viewer's eye is drawn to it because of the lightened forehead so that the focus of the painting is right where it should be: on the man's countenance itself. However, what really charms us about this painting, brings it into realm of high country rural folk art, and makes it a fine example of the genre is the addition of the little naively done hand. Finally, the surface of this handsome portrait is excellent with expected fine craquelure of the original varnish, and the frame is very nice with typical minor dings and touch ups. Provenance: Ex Donald Moylan Collection