prince demah, portrait painter - presented at history camp 2015 in boston

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Prince Demah, Portrait Painter Paula Bagger Hingham Historical Society Presented at History Camp in Boston on March 28, 2015

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Page 1: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince Demah, Portrait Painter

Paula Bagger Hingham Historical Society

Presented at History Camp in Boston on March 28, 2015

Page 2: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portraits of Henry and Christian (Arbuthnot) Barnes Old Ordinary, Hingham

Page 3: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Susan Barker Willard (1850-1926) Founding member, Hingham Historical Society

Page 4: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“Mrs. Henry Barnes, nee Christian Goldthwait. This portrait painted by Copley. She was a Loyalist and Tory. She was a niece or cousin of Miss Deborah Barker, through whom this portrait and her husband’s descended to me. Also the correspondence written from Bristol in England to her Barker cousins in Hingham . . .”

Henry and Christian (Arbuthnot) Barnes Oil Portraits by Prince Demah

Old Ordinary, Hingham

Page 5: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Christian Barnes correspondence at Library of Congress, Massachusetts Historical Society, and

Hingham Historical Society

Page 6: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Letter from Daphney to Christian Barnes, May 13, 1787 Hingham Historical Society

Page 7: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait of William DuGuid Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Page 8: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“W.D. Aetatis sui 26 1773. “Prince Demah Barnes Sculpt-- Pinxit Feb’ry 1773”

The Metropolitan Museum of Art

Portrait of William DuGuid (February 1773)

Page 9: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Baptismal records, Trinity Church, Boston May 23, 1745

“Dafney an adult & Prince, negroes”

Records of Trinity Church, Boston, Massachusetts Historical Society

Page 10: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

C. Hudson, History of the Town of Marlborough (1862)

The  Barnes  Household,  Marlborough,  Massachuse4s  The  Barnes  Estate  Marlborough,  Massachuse4s  

Page 11: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Henry Barnes purchases Prince (Dec. 1769)

“Mr. Barnes has late made a purchase of Prince not solely with a view of drawing my picture but I believe he has some design of improving his genius in painting and as soon as procured some materials you shall have a sample of his performance. Daphney appears to be much better reconciled to a state of slavery by her son’s arrival. Upon the whole I do not believe there is a happier set of Negros in any kitchen in the Province, and so much for my domesticks of the lower order.”

— Christian Barnes to Elizabeth Smith (Dec. 23, 1769)

Page 12: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Marlborough, 1769-1770

“My hospital is a snug, warm chamber where I am seated before a good fire with Caty on one side of me dealing out her sentimentals, Chrisy on the other side entertaining me with her innocent prattle. Prince is fixed in one corner of the room improving himself in the art of painting and every two or three hours Mr. Barnes enters with his cheerful countenances and make us all happy. . . . [W]ere I only to descant on the qualifications of my limner it would be a subject to fit several sheets. He is a most surprising instance of the force of natural Genius for without the least instruction or improvement he has taken several faces which are thought to be very well done. He has taken a copy of my picture which I think has more of my resemblance than Copling’s. He is now taking his own face which I will certainly send you as it must be valued as a curiosity by any friend you shall please to bestow it upon. . . .”

Page 13: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Marlborough, 1769-1770

“We are at a great loss for proper materials. At present he has worked only with crayons and them very bad ones and we are so ignorant as not to know what they are to be laid on. He has hitherto used blue paper but I think something better may be found out. If you should meet in your travels with any one who is proficient in the art I wish you would make some inquiries in these particulars for people in general think Mr. Copling will not be willing to give him any instruction and you know there is nobody else in Boston that does anything at the business and I should likewise be obliged to you if you could employ some friend who is a judge of these things to purchase a small appointment of Crayons with other materials proper for the business that he may be kept employed in this way till he has made some further improvement and then I intend to exhibit him to the public and don’t doubt he will do honor to the profession.”

Page 14: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Marlborough, 1769-1770

“You laugh now and think this is one of Mr. Barnes’ Schemes but you are quite mistaken it is entirely my own and as it is the only one I ever engaged in I shall be greatly disappointed if it does not succeed. I cannot dismiss this subject without acquainting you that this surprising genius has every qualification to render him a good servant, sober, diligent, and faithful. I believe as he was born in our family that he is of Tory principles but of that I am not quite so certain as he has not yet declared himself.”

Page 15: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

The  Barnes  Household,  Marlborough,  Massachuse4s  Prince’s Pictures Sent to England 1770

“I never dreamed she intended to make him a Limner.  I’ll engadge it would cost her £300 to send him home for improvement and after all were he to answer her expectation who in Boston would prefer a Negro to Copley. . . . “If I thought it was to fill up his idle time and no more but if you chuse it I will go to Mr. Strange tho I have very little acquaintance there & carry the pictures for his judgment and give him the history of Prince.”

— Janette Barclay to Elizabeth Smith (Summer 1770) 

Sir Robert Strange (1721-1792)

Page 16: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Boston Gazette January 22, 1770

Henry Barnes, Trader Non-Importation Agreements

Page 17: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“Mr. Barnes has taken his passage with Jacobsen and will sail in a few days. He carries Hogarth with him not entirely in the quality of valet de chambre but with a view of improving him in his painting or reaping some advantage from his performances.”

— Christian Barnes to Elizabeth Murray Smith

Oct. 1770

William Hogarth, “Four Times of Day – Noon” (1738)

Prince’s Trip to London (Nov. 1770 - July 1771)

Page 18: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Catherine Macauley

Prince’s Trip to London, 1770-71 Painting lessons with Robert Edge Pine

John Wilkes

“Prince comes on extremely well. He is with a Mr. Pine who has taken him purely for his genius. Mr. Wright tells me I shall carry him a Treasure to America . . . .”

— Henry Barnes to Elizabeth Smith

Feb. 21, 1771

Page 19: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

George Washington National Portrait Gallery

Washington

Congress Voting Independence Independence Hall

Philadelphia

Prince’s Trip to London, 1770-71 Painting lessons with Robert Edge Pine

Page 20: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince’s Trip to London, 1770-71 Painting lessons with Robert Edge Pine

John Pine, Engraver (Hogarth)

Page 21: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Ignatius Sancho (Gainesborough) Olaudah Equiano Quobna Ottobah Cugoano (?) (Cosway)

Prince’s Trip to London, 1770-71 Painting lessons with Robert Edge Pine

“I want you should return with Bill for I do not let [Prince] converse with any of his own colour here. “

— Henry Barnes to Elizabeth Murray Smith

Feb. 21, 1771 (Mass. Historical Society).    

Page 22: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“ . . . I have met with so many disappointments in life that tho’ late I have learnt not to be too sanguine in my expectation. Indeed his life & situation are so precarious if he should even attempt his Freedom it would give me such a disgust to him I should not overlook it. . . .”

— Henry Barnes to Elizabeth Murray Smith, Feb. 21, 1771.  

Abolition of Slavery in England Somersett’s Case

Page 23: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“As soon as the roads are tolerable I propose going to Boston in order to recommend our Limner to the Publick.”

— Christian Barnes to Elizabeth (Smith) Inman

Mar. 9, 1772

Prince in Boston, 1772-73

James Murray (Copley) Currier Museum of Art

Page 24: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Boston, 1772-73 Boston News-letter, Jan.-Nov. 1773

Page 25: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Boston, 1772-73 King Street and the Town House

Page 26: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

“I had a favor to ask which I must now petition you will grant me which is that if you have an hour to spare at any time when you are in Boston you will allow Prince to make some alteration in the Coppy he has taken from your Picture which he says he cannot do but from the life and Please to give him any directions you think proper as to the Dress of the Head.”

— Christian Barnes to Elizabeth Inman

July 22, 1773 (Library of Congress)

Elizabeth Murray Smith (Copley) Museum of Fine Arts, Boston

Prince in Boston, 1772-73 Copies Elizabeth Inman’s Portrait

Page 27: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince in Boston, 1772-73 Portrait of William DuGuid (February 1773)

Metropolitan Museum of Art

Page 28: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Henry Barnes, “Absentee”

Page 29: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince Demah, Matross Massachusetts State Train of Artillery

Page 30: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Burial records, Trinity Church, Boston March 18, 1778: “Prince Demiah, a free Negro”

Page 31: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince’s will, MA State Archives. “I, Prince Demah of Boston . . . Limner”

Page 32: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Bequeaths estate to “my Loving Mother Daphne Demah” Appoints as executor “my trusty Friend Prince Taylor”

Page 33: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait of Christian Barnes Copy of a Copley

Mrs. Alexander Cumming (Elizabeth Goldthwait) 1770

Brooklyn Museum of Art

Page 34: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait  of  Chris9an  Barnes  Copy  of  a  Copley  

Page 35: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait of Henry Barnes Likely Painted from Life

Page 36: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait of Henry Barnes Likely Painted from Life

Page 37: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Portrait of Henry Barnes Likely Painted from Life

Page 38: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Poems on Various Subjects, Religious and Moral (1773) Phyllis Wheatley

Page 39: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Joshua Johnson (1763-1824)

The Westwood Children National Gallery of Art

Mrs. Andrew Bedford Bankson and Son Art Institute of Chicago

Page 40: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Black Artists and Artisans in Colonial America

Peter Fleet, woodcut engraver c. 1740 (Harvard Art Museums)

Page 41: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Other pictures by Prince?

▫ CB sitting to Prince for her picture (1769) ▫ Prince has taken a copy of her brothers [William Arbuthnot] portrait

(1770) ▫ Prince has taken a copy of Christian’s picture (1770) ▫ He is taking a copy of his own face (1770) ▫ Prince is diligently employed on a picture of CG and she hopes to send

it to London to get an expert appraisal of his gifts. (1770) ▫ “He has taken 5 faces from life” since he returned from England,” three

of them as good as Copling ever took” (1772). ▫ Portrait of William DuGuid (1773) ▫ Possible companion portrait of Mrs. DuGuid (1773)

Page 42: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Other pictures by Prince?

▫ Prince copied Elizabeth Murray’s portrait (1772) ▫ Prince made a drawing of Chrisy, which is sent to her in Bristol, ▫ Prince may have copied Dorothy Murray Forbes’ portrait ▫ Painting of Christian Barnes ▫ Painting of Henry Barnes ▫ When Henry Barnes made a claim against the British Treasury for lost

property, he listed “6 valuable family portraits”

Page 43: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

Prince  Demah,  Portrait  Painter  [c.  1741-­‐1778]  

Prince Demah, Portrait Painter [c. 1741-1778]

Page 44: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

The Hingham Historical Society

Old Derby Academy 34 Main Street, Hingham

Page 45: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

The Hingham Historical Society

Old Ordinary House Museum 21 Lincoln Street, Hingham

Page 46: Prince Demah, Portrait  Painter - Presented at History Camp 2015 in Boston

The Hingham Historical Society

For hours and more information

HinghamHistorical.org

781-749-7721 [email protected]