Thomas Waterman Wood 1823-1913

John F. Smith, 1881 (purchased from the artist) 
The Union League of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Berry-Hill Galleries, New York
Acquired by the present owner from the above, 1983

Very good condition; lined; under UV: some fine lines of inpainting to address some craquelure, particularly above figure on right, some small retouches to address frame abrasion along upper edge, and a few scattered pindots of retouching, otherwise fine.
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.

The son of a local cabinet-maker, Thomas Waterman Wood was brought up in Montpelier, Vermont where he worked in his father's furniture shop. As a youth, Wood relied on nature and instruction books as his first teachers.  In 1846, however, he traveled to Boston, where he may have studied with Chester Harding.  A successful portraitist in the 1850s, Wood interrupted his career in 1858 to go to Paris to study the Old Masters and establish a studio. In the Louvre, he copied paintings by Gleyre, Titian, Greuze, Murillo and Rembrandt, while concentrating on genre subjects in his studio. He finally settled in New York in 1867 after years of travel and became president of the American Water Color Society and served as the vice president of the National Academy of Design.