Justus Da Lee Miniature Watercolor Portraits

Circa 1840: While it can be difficult differentiating the work of individual Da Lee family members, scholarly evidence points us to the identification of Justus Dalee as having painted this pair of fine miniature portraits. In Joan R. Brownstein and Elle Sushan's groundbreaking article "Side Portrait Painters: Differentiating the Da Lee Family Artists" published in the July 2011 issue of The Magazine Antiques, the authors note the "faint bleed of blue from around the spandrel onto the white ground which may be an accident of condition or the result of the artist's intention." They go on to assert that "Justus Da Lee's portraits...were first drawn in pencil, which was also used to shade the face within its firm but fluid outline, its curves playing off those of the spandrel." Furthermore, Brownstein and Sushan explain that "a pale ground color was then added and the features were accentuated in darker markings on the brows, upper brush-like lashes, pupil, iris, nostril, and the lip division." In their detailed analysis, the authors claim that "hair, unless very thin, was painted with a base color then individual strands were further defined in black." Finally, they contend that "inner ears were painted with red wash, the ridge of bone connecting the ear to the cheek distinctly marked in black." These extraordinary portraits clearly exhibit all of these features. Additionally, Da Lee scholar Michael Payne recently examined the portraits in our booth during Antiques Week in New Hampshire and gave us his blessing that they are indeed in the hand of Justus Da Lee. Housed in matching 5 5/8" x 4 3/4" later but period appropriate black frames, these sitters are seated in paint decorated fancy chairs and are forever staring straight into each other's eyes.