William Tylee Ranney (American, 1813-1857), oil on canvas portrait depicting the artist's sister Clarissa Ranney Baldwin (1809-1886) or mother, Clarissa Gaylord Ranney (1789-1863). The bust length portrait depicts the subject with brunette curls, wearing a white lace bonnet and collar and a black dress. Unsigned. Stained wood frame with gilt sight edge. Canvas 25 1/4"H x 20"W. Frame 32"H x 27" W. Biography: William Tylee Ranney, is best remembered for his paintings depicting the American West and the opening of the American frontier, as well as sporting art and portraiture. Born in Connecticut, he was apprenticed to a tinsmith in Fayetteville, North Carolina after his sea-captain father was lost at sea. He joined the Texas army in 1836 to fight for independence against Mexico, but in 1838 returned to the Northeast, where he exhibited for the first time at the National Academy of Design. He traveled back and forth between North Carolina and New York for a time and advertised himself as a portrait painter in 1843. [The portrait being offered in this auction may date from about this time]. By 1853 Ranney had built a studio in Hoboken, NJ and was producing paintings depicting the opening of the American frontier. His successful career was cut short in 1857 when he died of consumption. Source: Peggy and Harold Samuels, "Encyclopedia of Artists of the American West."

PROVENANCE: Provenance: the estate of Kathryn Foote Shaw, by direct descent from Clarissa Ranney Baldwin, the artist's sister. A packet of genealogical information is available to the winning bidder.

CONDITION: Craquelure throughout. Professionally conserved in 1996 by Westlake Conservators, New York with some minimal infill painting to traction cracks, a slight area of retouching in lower center and re-varnishing. Conservation tag en verso.