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2019.100.1, Portrait
Portrait of Annie Eliza Tomkins (1831-1878)
2019.100.1, Portrait

Portrait of Annie Eliza Tomkins (1831-1878)

Dateca. 1845
OriginAmerica, Tennessee, Sumner County
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: OH: 24 1/2 in.; OW: 20 1/2 in.; Framed: OH: 28 1/2 in.; OW: 24 1/2 in.
Credit LineMuseum Purchase, The Friends of Colonial Williamsburg Collections Fund
Object number2019.100.1,A&B
DescriptionPortrait of a young girl wearing a green high waisted dress with pouf sleeves and a gold locket around her neck. She is posed slightly turned to her left with her left arm resting on a table and book.

The possibly original frame is a simple cove molded gilt wood frame.Label TextAnnie Eliza Tomkins was born in 1831 in Gallatin, Sumner County, Tennessee to John Randolph Augustus (J.R.A.) Tomkins and his wife, Mary Henderson Madden. J.R.A. Tomkins was a South Carolina born merchant who, once settled in Tennessee, became a prominent land owner, militia captain and civic leader. He served as a trustee of the Sumner Female Academy, the president of a cotton factory, and the Director of the Bank of Gallatin. In 1855, Annie Eliza married W.A. Harrison, a Presbyterian minister and the couple spent many years living in Knoxville, Tennessee where Reverend Harrison served as the minister of the First Presbyterian Church. Annie Eliza died in 1878 and was buried in her hometown at the Gallatin City Cemetery alongside her father and brothers.

This portrait of Annie Eliza was likely painted around 1845 when she was about 14 years old. Although the artist is currently unidentified, they were likely one of the many itinerant artists working in Tennessee during the time period.ProvenanceThe portrait was originally left to Annie Eliza's younger brother Dr. William R. Tomkins and descended through his line of the Tomkins family directly to Case Antique's consignor.