Artist/Maker

Unknown

Place Made

Date Made

1838-1845

Medium

oil on canvas

Dimensions

Canvas: HOA 13-7/8″; WOA 11-3/8″
Frame: HOA 17-3/4″; WOA 15-5/16″

Accession Number

5607.13

Description

Portrait of Francis Levin Fries (1812-1863); he is seated in a chair with a scrolled back and his right arm is draped over the back. He wears a dark coat and vest with a white shirt and green tie; a gold watch chain is connected to his vest. He appears to be a young man (mid-30’s) with brown hair and green eyes. The background is green at the top and shaded dark at the bottom. Housed in a gold frame with beaded detail; frame has several chips.

See acc. no. 5607.14 for Portrait of Lisetta Fries.

History

Descended in a family from Salem, North Carolina.

A handwritten note by donor reads: “Portraits in the Hall / Francis Fries / 1812-1863 / Lisetta Vogler Fries / dau. / of John Vogler – Parents of Emma Fries Bahnson and grandmother of Mary Louise Davis.”

“Francis Levin Fries organized and built the wool mill during 1839 and 1840. He had gained experience acting as a agent for the Salem Manufacturing Company, a cotton mill constructed in 1836. The mill was owned collectively by the Moravian Church (Southern Province) congregation.

The Fries Woolen and Cotton Mills were later operated by Francis and his brother, Henry F. Fries. Francis died in 1863 and his brother took over operations. Henry W. Fries would run the F. & H. Fries Mill (1882 ad pictured at right). Other relatives would continue in the textile business, primarily wool yarn and clothing into the late 19th century.” http://www.historync.org/NCtextilecos/FriesMills.htm

Credit Line

Gift of Bonnie Davis Bennett in memory of: Mary Louise Haywood Davis, Louise Bahnson Haywood, and Lisetta Fries.