Expert: J Heuman - 8/10/2004

Question
Do you know how I could find out if there was an early American Quaker artist by the name of James Southwick? I think he painted American minatures, but am not sure. Am also interested in researching American minature artists. Where do you suggest I begin? Looking forward to hearing from you. Thanks! Priscilla

Answer
Greetings Priscilla!

Regretfully, I do not know quite enough about Quaker artists to recognize the name James Southwick.  In fact, I really only know one Quaker artist -- Edward Hicks (1780-1849), painter of 'Peaceable Kingdom'.  Quakers were dicouraged from participation in anything deemed decorative and not utilitarian.  (Of course, portraits may have been acceptable in Quaker theology?)

However, I gladly provide two resources which might be difficult to track down, unless at your nearest university or art museum library:

    Norton, R. W.  Portrait Miniatures in Early American
    History, 1750-1840: 1750-1840 (April 1976).

    Wehle, Harry B. and Theodore Bolton.  American
    Miniatures Seventeen Thirty to Eighteen Fifty: One
    Hundred & Seventy-Three Portraits (May 1970).

I regret my inability to help further.

Best wishes, sincerely,
J Heuman