Extremely Rare and Important Portrait of Wampanoag Abram Quary of Nantucket, circa 1851,

Extremely Rare and Important Portrait of Abram Quary of Nantucket, circa 1851, attributed to Hermine Borchard Dassel (German-American: 1821 – 1857), original oil n canvas half-length portrait of Wampanoag Abram Skootequary (1768 – 1854), known as “the last Nantucket Indian.” The painting is untouched, in crazed but strong and stable condition, and remains very attractive and entirely presentable, mounted in a period, likely original carved and gilded frame. There are traces of an illegible inscription on the back of the canvas consistent with “Borchard” or “Dassel” and the back of the frame is inscribed “Abram Quary.”

Quary was a retired whaleman who lived on the Shimmo shore (at Abram’s Point); in later years he was known for his woven baskets and for hosting clambakes for hire at Shimmo. A portrait of Abram seated with a basket hangs in the Nantucket Atheneum, and another portrait by Dassel is in the collection of the Nantucket Historical Association. Quary proclaimed himself to be the last Nantucket Indian, although other island families claimed Wampanoag descent, and in fact he was survived by his own niece Dorcas Honorable (c 1770 – 1855).

Hermine Borchard Dassel was born to a wealthy family in Prussia. A naturally talented artist, she started selling paintings at an early age and studied art in Dusseldorf and later in Italy, where her popular genre paintings gained her recognition in Europe and the United States. She moved to Philadelphia in 1849 and was quickly successful. Her work was displayed in the American Art-Union, the Boston Athenaeum, and the National Academy of Design, who selected her to be one of the first female honorary members in 1850. She moved to New York and became very popular painting portraits and giving art lessons to the wealthier families.

Hermine traveled to Nantucket in 1851 where she painted what were to become her best known portraits. She became particularly interested in the remaining Native American population on the island and painting portraits of Abram Quary and Isabella Draper. She was also commissioned to paint a portrait of the famed Nantucket astronomer Maria Mitchell. The artist unfortunately passed away after a short illness in 1857.

The painting is in fair to good condition with craquelure throughout.
Measures: 27-5/8 in H x 22 in W
Framed: 29-3/4 in H x 24-3/4 in W