Artist/Maker

Sully, Thomas

Place Made

Date Made

1837

Medium

oil –wood

Dimensions

WOA 26 1/2; LOA 29 3/4 (framed)

Accession Number

P-78

Description

SITTER AND ARTIST: A self-portrait of the artist Thomas Sully (1783-1872) that was given as a gift to the Salem, North Carolina, painter Daniel Welfare (1797-1841). Welfare studied for a brief period with Sully in Philadelphia and named his son Thomas Sully Welfare.

Thomas Sully was born in Horncastle, England and emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, with his parents in 1792. He studied painting in Charleston, South Carolina, with his brother-in-law Jean Belzons (active 1794-1812). He then moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he continued his studies with his older brother, the artist Lawrence Sully (1769-1804). He worked briefly in New York City before settling in Philadelphia. Sully’s Philadelphia studio became an important stop for young American painters looking to hone their craft.

DESCRIPTION: Bust-length portrait of a man facing slightly to the left and looking slightly over his right shoulder. He has short curly dark hair and wears a dark coat.

History

Gift from Thomas Sully to Daniel Welfare, accompanied by a letter [P-79]. Daniel Welfare left this painting to his son, Thomas Sully Welfare (died in Lexington) who left it to his son, Robert Noble Welfare (died in 1900), who left it to his aunt Jane Edith Welfare.

Artist Biography

ARTIST BIO: Thomas Sully was born in Horncastle, England Lincolnshire; emigrated to U.S. with his parents 1792; studied in Charleston; established himself in Richmond, VA as a painter in 1803; went to N.Y. Lived in Philadelphia & died there in 1872. His best known work is WASHINGTON CROSSING THE DELEWARE,” now in a museum in Boston. Another self portrait & other paintings are in the Metropolitan Museum of Art in NYC.

Thomas Sully was born in Horncastle, England and emigrated to Charleston, South Carolina, with his parents in 1792. He studied painting in Charleston, South Carolina, with his brother-in-law Jean Belzons (active 1794-1812). He then moved to Richmond, Virginia, where he continued his studies with his older brother, the artist Lawrence Sully (1769-1804). He worked briefly in New York City before settling in Philadelphia. Sully’s Philadelphia studio became an important stop for young American painters looking to hone their craft.

Credit Line

Wachovia Historical Society