Lot 189
Attributed to William Carroll Saunders (Sanders) (American/Alabama, 1817-1892), "Group Portrait of a Family, A Husband and Wife and Their Son", oil on canvas, unsigned, 30.5in. x 40 in., in a period mahogany frame. E10000-15000 Note: Born in Huntsville, Alabama, William Carroll Saunders' family settled in Columbus, Mississippi prior to 1830. According to family tradition, despite acceptance into West Point, Saunders decided to pursue a career as an artist and studied informally with Samuel F.B. Morse. Saunders exhibited at the National Academy of Design in 1838 and then he furthered his studies in art during tours of Italy. From 1842 to 1847, Saunders opened a studio in Mobile where he painted portraits and historical paintings. After serving as consul to Rome, Saunders opened a studio in Columbus in 1852 and earned portrait commissions from clients in Alabama and Mississippi. During the Civil War, he exhibited the painting "Jeptha and His Daughter" for the benefit of the Confederate soldiers. In this charming "Group Portrait of a Family", Saunders in his typical style depicted a portrait of a father, mother and their young son with rather somber expressions on their faces. Similar to the Alabama Department of History and Archives' portrait of "Colonel George Washington Foster and his Daughter Jane", Saunders painted a colorful setting sun over the Southern landscape. Reference: E Bryding Adams Made in Alabama: A State Legacy, Birmingham Museum of Art, 1995, pages 150 and 174.
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