Portrait of John M. Harris
Dateca. 1835
Artist
Samuel T. Taylor
ca. 1800 - ca. 1847
MediumOil on canvas
Credit LineGift of Albert and Vivian Golding
Object number2025.100.2,A&B
DescriptionPortrait of a man sitting in a painted, fancy chair. His proper left arm rests on the top rail of the chair and in that hand he holds a Bible. He is wearing a black suit over a white shirt and stock.Label TextJohn M. Harris was born between 1795 and 1797 in Albemarle County, Virginia and was raised in his father, Benjamin Harris's home, Mountain Grove, which still stands today. About 1819, he moved to Buckingham County and settled 800 acres of land around Sharps Creek. He married 4 times but all 9 of his children were with his second wife, Evelina Ann Moseley. This portrait was painted around 1835 when John was about 40 years old. The portrait was likely completed by Samuel Taylor. Although a handful of works attributed to his hand survive, very little is known about Taylor's life or work. The surviving works are primarily from Buckingham and surrounding Appomattox, Cumberland, and Prince Edward Counties.ProvenanceJohn M. Harris [1795-1875] (Buckingham County, VA); by 1875, to his son, Norborne E. Harris [1824-1887] (Buckingham County, VA); by 1912, to his daughter, Irene A. Harris Richardson [1868-1950] (Albemarle County, Virginia); by 1950, to her daughter, Mary Louise Gates Richardson Golding [1907-2006] (Charlottesville, VA); by 2006, to her son, Albert F. Golding, Jr. [1928-2017] (Williamsburg, VA); 2025, presented as a gift to The Colonial Williamsburg Foundation (Williamsburg, VA)
ca. 1835
ca. 1845-1850
1852-1855