Rufus Hathaway (1770 - 1822)

he is signed and date; she is inscribed "AEtatis 31."

Captain and Mrs. Pollycarpus Edson;
Sarah Edson Eddy, daughter of Capt. and Mrs. Edson;
By descent to the Eddy Homestead, Middleborough, Massachusetts;
Vose Galleries, Boston, Massachusetts.

Craquelure. The captain with minor scatter inpainting. His wife with more moderate inpainting (largely in the margins, but some on her shawl); UPDATE 1/20/2017 - a recent, minor 1/16 inch by 2 3/16 inch scratch has been inpainted in the margin from the top of the canvas to just above the white of her bonnet (blacklight images available upon request). Replaced frames: 35 by 30 1/4 inches.
In response to your inquiry, we are pleased to provide you with a general report of the condition of the property described above. Since we are not professional conservators or restorers, we urge you to consult with a restorer or conservator of your choice who will be better able to provide a detailed, professional report. Prospective buyers should inspect each lot to satisfy themselves as to condition and must understand that any statement made by Sotheby's is merely a subjective qualified opinion.
NOTWITHSTANDING THIS REPORT OR ANY DISCUSSIONS CONCERNING CONDITION OF A LOT, ALL LOTS ARE OFFERED AND SOLD "AS IS" IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE CONDITIONS OF SALE PRINTED IN THE CATALOGUE.

In 1790, Rufus Hathaway was an itinerant limner working in southeastern Massachusetts, and by 1791, he had settled in Duxbury. Because his father and grandfather were both ship carpenters, it has been theorized that Hathaway may have learned to paint in the ship building and decorating trade. His artistic career was short—he painted little after 1795, the year he married Judith Winslow, the daughter of a prominent local merchant. Soon thereafter, he became a physician.

Hathaway’s portraits are consistent in their simple style, but also in that even in their simplicity, their subjects clearly exhibit wealth and status. Captain Pollycarpus Edson, who was named after the martyred Bishop of Smyrna, rests his arm on a ledgerbook, and he wears an expensive striped waistcoat and an overcoat with carved buttons. His wife, Lucy Eaton Edson, wears pearls and holds a handpainted fan. The Edsons lived in Bridgewater and had five children.