Lot 181: 2 Maria Howard Weeden Watercolors, Mule and Flowers

Maria Howard Weeden (Alabama, 1846-1905), two watercolor on card paintings, one of a mule, the other of three stemmed roses. Both images are captioned below, in watercolor: "De roses of Meh Lady done shatter all on de groun'." and "It sut'n'y did hurt me to part wid dat mule, he sich a ambitious mule." Each is unsigned and measures 9"H x 6 3/4"W. Like the other Maria Howard Weeden paintings offered in this auction, both appear to illustrate elements found in the 1893 book, "Meh Lady," by Thomas Nelson Page (a book which Maria Howard Weeden did not illustrate, although she did illustrate several other books). The book, a romance written in Black dialect from the point of view of a slave called "Uncle Billy," tells the story of a young Union soldier who is captured by Confederate forces and taken to "Meh Lady's" plantation as a prisoner of war. The young soldier and woman fall in love despite their different backgrounds.

PROVENANCE: The estate of Kaye Bransford Ruty, Nashville.

CONDITION: Each painting exhibits discoloration from sun exposure and acidic framing materials. Mule has a couple of scattered spots of foxing and a 1/8" hole. The hole has been backed with old tape which we have not attempted to remove. The works were professionally separated from their glued-on matting but retain remnants of previous adhesive around edges on both sides. These works have not been deacidified.