Artwork Description

Jonathan Adams Bartlett – Mary Ann Field, Age 14
Oil on Canvas | Signed

A charming and meticulously rendered portrait in the American folk art tradition, Mary Ann Field, Age 14 captures a young girl with striking realism and warmth. Dressed in an elegant blue gown, her dark brunette hair styled in delicate bottle curls, she leans gracefully on a table with a fishbowl at her elbow. Behind her, an open window reveals a tranquil landscape, adding depth and serenity to the composition. Bartlett’s attention to detail, from the delicate folds of the dress to the soft modeling of the subject’s features, showcases his skill as a portraitist.

Dimensions: Frame: 37 1/2" x 33"; Sight: 23" x 19"
Condition: Cleaned and relined, with fine craquelure.
Signature: Inscription in the upper right corner.

About the Artist:
Jonathan Adams Bartlett (1817–1902) was a self-taught American artist whose portraits embody the folk art tradition of the 19th century. A man of many talents—farmer, carpenter, musician, actor, and teacher—Bartlett’s artistic practice was only rediscovered in the 1970s when a signed portrait of his fiancée and an attributed self-portrait surfaced in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum.

Born in South Rumford, Maine, Bartlett remained close to his birthplace throughout his life, except for his service in the Union Army during the Civil War. In addition to portraiture, he worked as a decorative painter, sign-painter, and photographer, reflecting his wide-ranging artistic pursuits. His paintings exhibit both technical knowledge and an inventive, practical approach, blending folk craftsmanship with the conventions of sophisticated portraiture.

Bartlett’s works, rare yet highly regarded, capture the essence of 19th-century rural America, making his portraits prized pieces in the realm of American folk art.