ALS from John Riker to his brother about his Kensett painting "Coast of Cape Ann"
1891. The letter is written by John Lawrence Riker, a vice president of the Bank of New York, to his brother Henry, with an extensive description and history of his Kensett painting "Coast of Cape Ann". "My dear Brother, Sam tells me that you desired a description of the painting by "Kensett" which I sent many years since to Mr. Lazarus, with the intention of having, I believe, the sky touched up, as it was an incomplete work, the sky simply laid in. It was called "Coast of Cape Ann". There follows a description of the work, the size (24 x 16") which he bought at the "public sale of Mr. Kensett's effects". The painting was lot No. 332 and achieved $460, one of the higher priced paintings. Sam Riker was the executor of the estate of the artist Jacob Lazarus.
The catalogue of the sale is recorded as OCLC 1110428953, auctioned by Robert Somerville, "Collection of Over 500 Paintings & Studies by the late John F. Kensett", a 5 day sale in March 1873. The auction realized $127,139.
Written on heraldic paper with mourning black margin, 4 1/2 x 7". Hand addressed "19 West 57th Street, March 3, 1891". Some tanning in margins, upper corner crack repaired archivally.
An interesting history of a painting by a Hudson River School artist. Good overall. Item #26790
Price: $275.00