American Artist: Alfred S. Waugh

Jacksonian Era Lady, Presumed to Be
Mrs. Henry McKee* of Raleigh, North Carolina

American
circa 1835
by Alfred S. Waugh (ca. 1810-1856)
(signed 'Waugh / 1835', obverse right; additionally inscribed on the metal surface inside the case:
'Henry McKee / Painted by Alfred S. Waugh / Nov 1834 Raleigh')

2 3/16 x 2 11/16 inches (sight)

watercolor on ivory; housed under glass in a gilt metal case with a cast foliate border and bail

This portrait miniature is rare in that it is one of few known extant works signed and dated by Waugh. It is also an important specimen in that it was painted in Raleigh, North Carolina (as evidenced by the inscription inside the case), placing Waugh in Raleigh five years earlier than previously known.

*The name 'Henry McKee' is inscribed on the metal surface inside the case, as is the date 'Nov 1834', which conflicts with the date of '1835' painted on the portrait, obverse right. It is presumed that Waugh painted portrait miniatures of both Mr. and Mrs. Henry McKee, having painted Mr. McKee's portrait in November 1834, and Mrs. McKee's portrait shortly thereafter, in 1835. If so, one imagines that Waugh might have inscribed Mrs. McKee's name and the date of 1835 inside the second case and that the two cases were accidentally swapped at some point (perhaps while being cleaned). Perhaps at some point in the future, the second case will surface, along with the portrait of Mr. McKee.