Early 19th-century English School Portrait of Sarah Gibson - Antique Oil Painting

19th century

Sold by Brave Fine Art

Description

This beautiful little oil painting depicts a young Sarah Gibson née Mills (1813-1877) wearing a fine silver dress with fashionable gigot sleeves. Note how the material seems to shimmer - perhaps it’s satin. Her demure expression carries forth across the decades. She had the world at her feet.

Born in Helion Bumpstead, Essex, Sarah was the third daughter of Reverend Thomas Mills (1789-1832) of Coval Hall, Chelmsford and Hester Parris (1789-1871). Her parents provided her with a comfortable upbringing and she had seven siblings. In 1834, she married Reverend Henry Gibson (1809-1886) of Fyfield, Essex and moved into the Rectory. By 1861, the pair had nine children - six girls and three boys. The census of that year records that her son, Robert, was studying medicine. It also refers to four Rectory staff.

Sarah passed away in 1877 from typhoid leaving her husband as a widower. It’s believed that the pair had 15 children in total. Henry continued to work at the church until his own death in 1886. A local newspaper reported that he had taken a keen interest in the temperance movement and campaigned for public houses to be closed on Sundays.

The portrait was produced in around 1830 when she was 17 and bears an inscription on the reverse.

Housed within a later frame.

Medium: Oil on wood

Overall size: 8” x 9” / 20cm x 23cm

Year of creation: c. 1830

Condition: Artwork presents well. Frame with some light wear.

Physical Dimensions

Height

23cm (9.06")

Width

20cm (7.87")

Depth

3cm (1.18")

Declaration

Brave Fine Art has dated this piece to the 19th Century.

Reference Numbers

Sellingantiques Reference

SA917229

Description

“

Born in Helion Bumpstead, Essex, Sarah was the third daughter of Reverend Thomas Mills (1789-1832) of Coval Hall, Chelmsford and Hester Parris (1789-1871).

Brave Fine Art

Her parents provided her with a comfortable upbringing and she had seven siblings. In 1834, she married Reverend Henry Gibson (1809-1886) of Fyfield, Essex and moved into the Rectory. By 1861, the pair had nine children - six girls and three boys. The census of that year records that her son, Robert, was studying medicine. It also refers to four Rectory staff.

fig 1. Early 19th-Century English School Portrait Of Sarah Gibson - Antique Oil Painting — fig 1. Early 19th-century English School Portrait of Sarah Gibson - Antique Oil Painting

Sarah passed away in 1877 from typhoid leaving her husband as a widower. It’s believed that the pair had 15 children in total. Henry continued to work at the church until his own death in 1886. A local newspaper reported that he had taken a keen interest in the temperance movement and campaigned for public houses to be closed on Sundays.