Lot 166: Large Lloyd Branson Painting, Andrew Jackson Astride Sam Patch, After Ralph Earl

Lloyd Branson (Tennessee, 1861-1925) oil on board equestrian portrait painting of President Andrew Jackson astride his horse, Sam Patch, after Ralph E. W. Earl’s (1788-1838) c. 1833 painting in the collection of the Hermitage, Nashville, 1919. Signed and dated lower right. With painted wooden plaque affixed to frame that reads: “Andrew Jackson on Sam Patch. / This painting was presented to the Knoxville High School on March 1 – 1923 / By S. G. Heiskell, author of ‘Andrew Jackson and Early Tennessee History.'” Housed in a giltwood frame. Board: 54 in. H x 47 in. W. Frame: 57 3/4 in. H x 50 3/4 in. W. Note: Samuel Gordon Heiskell’s 1918 book ANDREW JACKSON AND EARLY TENNESSEE HISTORY includes a black and white photographic reproduction of the original Earl painting. Notably, Branson replaced the blue sky and daytime setting of Earl’s original painting with a pink sky and twilight setting characteristic of some of the artist’s own landscape paintings. Branson may have worked from the reproduction in Heiskell’s book and had to determine the coloration himself, or simply chose to intentionally depart from the original. Earl also depicts Jackson with a golden collar and breeches instead of white, as seen here. The Frist Art Museum, Nashville, included Earl’s painting in their 2003-2004 “Art of Tennessee” exhibition and selected it for the cover of the exhibition catalog. Biographical note: Enoch Lloyd Branson was best known for his Southern portraits and depictions of East Tennessee history. He moved to New York in 1873 to study at the National Academy of Design, where he won a first prize in 1875. In a partnership with Frank McCrary from 1885 to 1903, Branson became a leader in the Knoxville and East Tennessee arts communities. He was a mentor to Catherine Wiley and is credited with encouraging Beauford Delaney to pursue a career as an artist. (Research courtesy of James A. Hoobler, formerly of the Tennessee State Museum)

PROVENANCE: Private Knoxville collection

CONDITION: Repaired crack with retouching to sky, hat, and right thigh, center left, 9 in. L, plus stable cracks to lower right, 13 in. L and 1 in. L. Specks of grey paint, especially to lower half. With scattered, minor losses and abrasions. Frame with abrasions, losses, and cracks.