Prince Demah, limner, free Negro
March 23, 2024 9:13 AM Subscribe
“Negro Artist. At Mr. McLean’s, Watch-Maker, near the Town House, is a Negro man whose extraordinary Genius has been assisted by one of the best Masters in London; he takes Faces at the lowest Rates. Specimens of his Performance may be seen at said Place.”
William Duguid, a Scottish immigrant textile importer based in Boston, is the subject of this engaging portrait… the only enslaved artist working in colonial America whose paintings are known to have survived.
An article in The Magazine Antiques summarizes most of the information known about Demah and tells the story of how the signed painting of Duguid currently in The Met helped verify attribution of the two other known portraits in the hands of the Hingham Historical Society.
A lesson plan which includes links to two educational videos was created by Amber O’Neal Johnston, creator of homeschooling resources for ‘for parents of all backgrounds who are craving a lifegiving home that fosters values of diversity, kinship, equity, and inclusion.’
William Duguid, a Scottish immigrant textile importer based in Boston, is the subject of this engaging portrait… the only enslaved artist working in colonial America whose paintings are known to have survived.
An article in The Magazine Antiques summarizes most of the information known about Demah and tells the story of how the signed painting of Duguid currently in The Met helped verify attribution of the two other known portraits in the hands of the Hingham Historical Society.
A lesson plan which includes links to two educational videos was created by Amber O’Neal Johnston, creator of homeschooling resources for ‘for parents of all backgrounds who are craving a lifegiving home that fosters values of diversity, kinship, equity, and inclusion.’
It’s closing tomorrow, but I thought this exhibition at the American Folk Art Museum “Unnamed Figures: Black Presence and Absence in the Early American North” was really outstanding.
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:52 AM on March 23 [3 favorites]
posted by Horace Rumpole at 9:52 AM on March 23 [3 favorites]
Absolutely agreed with Horace Rumpole. If you are in NYC this weekend, go.
posted by minervous at 10:10 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]
posted by minervous at 10:10 AM on March 23 [1 favorite]
WOW! What amazing paintings. There is a sameness in style of a lot of paintings in this era, and these are different. There is something about them that is sharp and biting. I wish we had more of his work.
posted by rednikki at 3:02 PM on March 23 [1 favorite]
posted by rednikki at 3:02 PM on March 23 [1 favorite]
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