Two (2) American School folk art pendant portraits in the manner of Zedekiah Belknap (MA/NH/VT/NY, 1781-1858), oil on canvas, depicting subjects identified as Willard and Cleora Woods Kneeland of Vermont/New Hampshire. 1st item: A bust-length portrait of a gentleman wearing a black suit with black stock tie. With red ground typical of Belknap visible throughout, especially in face. Unsigned. Sight: 24 1/2" H x 20 3/4" W. Framed: 28 1/4" H x 24 1/2" W. 2nd item: A bust-length portrait of a lady wearing a bonnet with floral decorations and a lace ruff with a gold flower pin. Unsigned. Sight: 24 1/2" H x 20 3/4" W. Framed: 28 1/4" H x 24 1/2" W. Both housed in modern gilt wood frames. Both early 19th century. Printed tag taped to reverse of the frame on the lady's portrait reads "Cleora Woods Kneeland / 1810-1891 / m. Willard Kneeland / 1831-." Old Boston framing label en verso. Willard was born in Waterbury, Vermont in 1805 and died in Littleton, New Hampshire in 1875. Cleora was born in Waterbury, Vermont in 1810 and died in Littleton, New Hampshire in 1891. The couple married in Barnet, Vermont in 1831 (Source: Seven Centuries in The Kneeland Family, by Stillman Foster Kneeland).

PROVENANCE: Private Illinois Collection.

CONDITION: Overall good condition. 1st item: Horizontal craquelure lines visible on the forehead and right collar of the sitter and in the background, upper right. Some stress on canvas at upper right, along with several spots of exposed red ground. 2nd item: Horizontal craquelure lines and 1" x 1" abrasion to sitter's forehead with some pigment loss, a repair to the sitter's neck, and a 2" area of errant red paint in upper left. Both paintings have been relined, especially apparent in 1st item, lower left corner, where original canvas with red ground is exposed (see photograph). Scattered gilt loss and scuff marks on both frames.