Antique Paintings of Robert E. Lee and Stonewall Jackson

[ironlord1963]

    Thanks for the update Marcy,  really liked the article, the thread I read before this one just asked kind of the question suited for that link.   Good digging and posting marcylove.

[talesofthesevenseas]

If you decided to have them appraise it let us know what the value was. Really interesting following along on this one.

[Oceans64]

I still want to know who did them...  E.C.Middleton had a stamp that is missing from these but the initials on the frame do show an M.
From the pics it takes some imagination to get an E and a C tho...

[marcylove]

yes, Mr. Lane had asked if I looked on the back of the actual painted canvas, but we do not feel comfortable trying to remove it from the stretched canvas.  It looks glued or something.   

[Oceans64]

This one will be interesting to watch.  It the famous George & Martha pics by EC Middleton.  This set is usually listed in the $700-900 range.  I'll bet it doesn't get out of reserve pricing but it'll be interesting:  

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=220687978520&fromMakeTrack=true&ssPageName=VIP:watchlink:top:en

What's your opinion Marcy... Do you think confederate pics would go higher?  

ETA: Also..  Do you think EC did these?  There is a known EC Middleton of Lee and this doesn't match it.  There could have been more I suppose.  I wouldn't peel off the back either but hmmmm....

[marcylove]

I'm not sure.  I know there are a TON of civil war addicts out there, so I would like to think that ours would go for alot.  Especially with the unusual sitting of Robert E. Lee. 

I will keep my eye on the Washington pair though.  I emailed my brother and sister in law all the research I've been doing on ours, I wonder what they're going to want to do.

[Oceans64]

I was thinking that as well. 

Even if not by Middleton as a pair they would certainly go for at least what Geo & Martha sell for...  and probably faster as you have a larger audience.  I'm not sure if Lee is really younger in your pic as he seems to be more "hair challenged" than in other pics.  He does appear "freshly trimmed" which is unusual in itself and of course the seated left thing.  I have only seen him in uniform seated left  in a pic while he was standing, another by Currier and Ives (with his hair parted on the wrong side I might add) and then Middleton’s version.  Probably seated left so he faces Jackson.

Jackson is different too in that he is looking down.  It makes me wonder if the artist bought a discarded photo from the Chancellorsville photographer.  Of course now I'm just making stuff up a bit....  lol

I’m scratching my head as to whether or not this is Middleton’s work.  I found a letter written to Lee by Middleton here: http://home.wlu.edu/~stanleyv/18jan66.htm
He mentions making matched portraits of Lee and Jackson.  Lee replied to the letter he has no good pics of himself to which Middleton responds (actually sends someone to his house): http://home.wlu.edu/~stanleyv/07mar66.htm I copied the transcriptions at the bottom of the post.

My thinking is he probably only produced one image which I’m sure you’ve seen:
http://www.alincolnbookshop.com/html/new_acquisitions.htm#lee

You will note he is hair challenged in Middleton’s pic too (based off a Brady photo) but a
little more grown out in the back and sides than in yours…

I don’t know…  Interesting stuff.
___________________ ___________________ ________

First Letter

E. C. MIDDLETON & CO.
PUBLISHERS OF NATIONAL OIL PORTRAITS.
132 West Fourth Street, Cincinnati, Jan 18th 1866
General Robert E. Lee
President of Washington College
Lexington, Va
 
Dear Sir
While visiting General Sherman at his residence in St. Louis a few days ago, and getting the favorable impression of himself and wife in regard to my Oil Portraits of him - He suggested the propriety of adding to my Series of Oil Portraits, designed for the parlors of the Country - The Portrait of yourself and General Stonewall Jackson which I have about concluded to do, provided I can get copies to work from that are satisfactory to the families of both - Will you be kind enough to send me such a photograph of yourself, Card Size or larger if you can, with a full description of your complexion, being as particular as possible about the color of your eyes and hair, as well as flesh tone.  You will confer upon me a very great favor if you can procure for me a good copy of Genl Jackson with a similar description of his complexion.
We design to make them Match Portraits - and it is my purpose to have the South thoroughly canvassed for subscribers - My portraits are disposed of only by subscription - You can form some opinion of their merit by a perusal of the enclosed Testimonials -
Yours Respectfully
E. C. Middleton
For E. C. Middleton by Co
 
Notation on reverse by in General Lee's handwriting:
18 Jan66
E. C. Middleton in reference to portraits of self & Genl Jackson
 
Ansd 13 Feb – that I had no good photographs etc

Second Letter
Washington Mch 7th 1866
Genl. R. E. lee
Lexington Va.
 
Dear Sir
Allow me to introduce to you Mr. E F Lutz of Baltimore.
You will remember having received from me a few weeks ago a letter written in Cincinnati, in which I requested you to favour me with such a likeness of yourself as was satisfactory to you, and your friends, to be copied in my style of Oil Colors; to which you replied that “you had no such likeness, nor had you seen any that was satisfactory to you.”
Having learned that Mr. Brady of Washington City had succeeded in producing a very fine Photograph from a siting (sic) you gave him, a few days ago, I have visited this City for the purpose of procuring a copy of the same.
Mr Lutz, my general agent for Maryland, and Virginia, visits you for the purpose of presenting you with a few copies which I trust you and friends will endorse as correct.
I regard these copies as beautiful works of art, and if I can get the desired endorsement, I propose to proceed at once to copy the same in my style of Oil Colors.
By your permission, Mr Lutz will make a few notes of your complexion; he will also show you a sample of our style of Arts, in the portrait of Washington which is the same style, and size that we propose for your portrait.
 
Very Respectfully Yours
 
 
E C Middleton
 
Fm E C Middleton & Co
Cincinnati Ohio
 
Notation on reverse in General Lee’s handwriting:
 7 Mar ‘66
Mr E. C. Middleton
Says Mr Lutz will Take notes of color  etc
For Portrait

[waywardangler]

All of this is very interesting and great research marcy and Oceans!  I wonder if a bright light would penetrate the canvas enough to see if there is a stamp between the canvas and the backing?  Or maybe a blacklight?

[marcylove]

Oceans, Thanks very much for the links!  It is all very interesting!

Wayward, It never even occurred to me to do that!  Great idea!

[marcylove]

just got tis reply from Christie's.  I wasn't trying to sell it to them, just wanted to know what the darn things were!  Oh well, that's why i have you guys!

Dear Ms. Smith,
 
Thank you for contacting Christie's regarding the possible sale of your
property. Our specialists have carefully reviewed the information you
kindly sent to us and have requested that I share with you their
response. Unfortunately, based on the information provided, your
property does not appear to fall into a property category or value level
that Christie's currently handles for sale. For that reason, our
specialists are not able to suggest an estimate or provide other
information.
 
We recognize that this may be disappointing news, and although we cannot
be of assistance at this time, we hope that we may be of service to you
in the future.
 
Yours faithfully,
 
Alexandra Miciotta
Christie's Client Service

[mariok54]

Shame about that, Marcy, and I am expecting a similar response about my  miniature    (although they did respond to you remarkably quickly ... I'm expecting to wait 4 - 6 weeks!) 

[marcylove]

yea, that's what they told me too...I think it's a standard response!   

[Oceans64]

The George & Martha on ebay sold for $250 plus $55 shipping (more or less). I was watching it since I think yours as a pair would go for more. Others can tell you how eBay lines up with other auctions. I would think eBay would be less but what do I know. I'm still puzzled by who did these.  You don't see many (any?) portraits of political figures that that weren't done by Middleton but they all have his stamp.  I'm not sure it matters tho...  I think the subject matter and age is more important.  They all seem to sell.  

[marcylove]

Thanks Oceans!     I still have to hold a light up to them to see if I can see Middleton's printmark...

[Oceans64]

That's the thing...  Unless someone glued canvas to his canvas, I don't think it would be there.  His mark is on the actual canvas not the paper in the ones I have seen.  You've probably guessed by now you have me hooked his work    I am looking at a couple of Washington's since they seem to be available and affordable so a good place to start collecting. Plus, I enjoy early political history.

On one hand, I think these are Middleton's work by the quality and style which is almost undeniable. OTOH...  I think Middleton had access to better quality pics meaning Jackson looking forward instead of down and there are definitely better pics of Lee by Brady (the photographer) whom we know Middleton knew.  In fact he produced one from a Brady pic that IMO is a far better picture of Lee (no offense).  But again, Middleton did write a letter to Lee stating he wanted to do a matched set but I have found none of Jackson surfacing on the net... The ones Fancy posted earlier maybe an example (?)  I keep meaning to go and look.

There is precedence that Middleton produced more than one view of the same person. Probably due to popularity.  There are at least 2 (probably 3) of Washington. So it’s conceivable he produced a second of Lee. There is a rumor that Middleton did a Stonewall Jackson and sold it to raise $$ for the memorial but Middleton’s pics were also sold for Lee and Washington memorials so the stories may be confused.

I've accumulated some interesting info on Middleton if you're interested - I don't want to bore anyone tho. I'm just trying to figure out if he ever did Jackson for my own newbie collector knowledge