Part II: Blunt and the Borden Limner
Portrait of Gentleman holding card
inscribed "John S. Blunt" aka Self Portrait
Oil on canvas. Height 36 inches. Width 28 inches
Illustrated Clarion, fig. 1
Collection of Randy and Nancy Root
Sponsor Research on John Samuel Blunt
An Artist who is highly collectible on the Art Market but whose story is incomplete.
This project has already produced the first Blunt monograph including a full biography of the artist, with pages from his two known sketchbooks alongside a selection of his marine and landscape painting and select works by his contemporaries, all richly illustrated in color with details. A public exhibition of his work representing the various genres in which he worked was held in Portsmouth in 2007.
Part II: Blunt and the Borden Limner
What still needs to be funded:
Extensive Travel
Finish documenting and photographing the remainder of the paintings, sketches and studies attributed to this artist that are in public and private collections outside of New England including AZ, CO, DE, FL, NY, PA, and VA.
Interview direct descendants of the artist and review the original primary documents still owned by them as well as key secondary documentation not yet examined in the institutions such as the Archives American Art, Wash. DC, American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, MA and Abby Aldrich Museum, Williamsburg, VA.
More Indepth Scholarly Research
Accurately reconstructing details of Blunt’s artistic career are critical to solving key issues of attribution that exist in the body of work ascribed to him. Recent discovery of a ledger book and 2 sketchbooks attest to his abilities and success as a landscape, marine and ornamental painter, but more study needs to be undertaken to assess his work in portraiture.
Careful genealogy work confirming correct identification of the sitter and detailed provenance searches must be undertaken for each portrait as none of the portraits located to date are signed and dated,. Many of the portraits are still missing which were featured in Dr. Bishop’s 1980 exhibit in the American Folk Art Museum, NY. A search for these portraits and others like them is ongoing in order to clearly identify the hand of Blunt in these highly original portraits.
Becoming a Patron is simple. Just download and complete this form (.pdf) and mail with your contribution to:
The Portsmouth Athenaeum
P.O. Box 848
Portsmouth, NH 03802
All donations are tax-deductible
For further details for how you can help and budget details, please contact the Keeper Tom Hardiman or phone 603.431.2538.
