Mrs. George (Anna Maria) Codwise
circa 1805 (Date manufactured/created)
Oil
canvas, painting
Anna Maria Codwise's husband, George, was a wealthy NY merchant who had commanded a six-gun sloop against the French in the French and Indian War. From 1790 to 1809 there is documented census record evidence that the Codwise family owned slaves, as many as 7 in 1800. The 1809 record shows one enslaved person, a woman named Nelly, was listed in the family’s household. George Codwise's father was Christopher Codwise. He had 2 siblings: Christopher Codwise and one other sibling. George married Anna Maria Codwise (born VAN RANST) in 1760, at age 28. Anna was born on October 8 1740, in New York City, Manhattan County, New York. They had 7 children: James Codwise, George Codwise and 5 other children. George passed away at age 82. (Sources: https://archivesforblacklives.files.wordpress.com/2019/10/ardr_final.pdf -- AND -- http://www.columbia.edu/cu/lweb/eresources/archives/rbml/Williamson/ -- AND -- http://capecoddaily.com/blog/a-child-of-misfortunes-part-one/ -- AND -- https://slaveryexhibits.ctl.columbia.edu/exhibits/show/a-columbia-family--the-codwise)
The artist of this portrait is John Trumbull (1756-1843). Trumbull was the son of the Revolutionary War Governor of Connecticut. His father objected to his painting career as an improper pursuit for a gentleman. Trumbull, who lost the use of one eye in a childhood accident, was an aide-de-camp to General George Washington. His war experience was the basis of four large paintings of the Revolution for the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
Unlike the artists of "folk portraits", Trumbull aspired to the formal style of European painters who captured a life-like appearance through fully modeled images enlivened with warm glazes.
The artist of this portrait is John Trumbull (1756-1843). Trumbull was the son of the Revolutionary War Governor of Connecticut. His father objected to his painting career as an improper pursuit for a gentleman. Trumbull, who lost the use of one eye in a childhood accident, was an aide-de-camp to General George Washington. His war experience was the basis of four large paintings of the Revolution for the Capitol Rotunda in Washington, D.C.
Unlike the artists of "folk portraits", Trumbull aspired to the formal style of European painters who captured a life-like appearance through fully modeled images enlivened with warm glazes.
Gift of Mrs. Arnold Wilson and the Salem Foundation, 1969
69.12