ROOFTOP COMET GAZING
Pennsylvania Circa 1858
Oil On Panel

This picture depicts a man and woman gazing at the Comet Donati. First spotted in May, the comet, with its spectacular tripletail, dominated the night sky by October of 1858. The couple is depicted standing atop a carefully rendered red brick building with green steeple having date of 1858; yellow doors and white trim. The evening breeze has carried away the woman's bonnet...she points at the flying hat, while her firefighter companion points to what for him is the main attraction of the evening. We hypothesize that the homeowner is concerned that the comet, or at the very least its debris, may crash into the building and therefore concerned citizens gathered at the site to stave off potential disaster. Some pumped water into buckets, as depicted in the lower left, while others took positions on the roof.
This whimsical picture was painted on the inside lid of a toolbox...the artist, a Mr. Harlan, a carpenter, (Notice attention to architectural detail.) was born and raised in Pennsylvania eventually settling at Richmond, Iowa circa 1870.
The box remained at the family homestead until it was sold in 1979...Harlan Farm Estate auction. The toolbox was purchased by a Harlan ancestor who stored it for many years not realizing that the inner lid was painted...after discovering the picture she sold the tool box to a dealer who professionally mounted the painting within the appropriate green painted period frame. The provenance compiled by interviews with ancestors; the estate executor and the man who framed the work. The varnish has darkened, otherwise the painting is in excellent condition. (Overall 44.5 x 28 ¼ inches; sight size 38 x 21.5 inches.)

706-4

Price: $31,500

If you are interested in buying this item, please call (978) 597-8084 or email David Hillier at drh@aaawt.com or Lynn Morin at lfm@aaawt.com

DEALER INQUIRIES WELCOME