Ramsier, John - portrait of Hon James Guthrie

Although this miniature looks like a photograph, it is a painting on milk glass and has been attributed to John Ramsier (1861-1936) of Kentucky. Ramsier was noted, in a similar way to John Henry Brown, for his ability to paint miniatures that imitated photographs to an amazing degree. He was also asked to copy many earlier images, both paintings and, as in this case, from photographs. His paintings tend to be on milk glass, rather than ivory, reflecting his earlier training as a photographer. There are three other miniatures by him in the collection.

Ramsier arrived in the USA in 1882 from Switzerland and was naturalised in 1897. He and his wife, Matilda lived in Louisville and had several children. In the census records, he usually describes himself just as an artist, but in 1910 stated he was a miniature painter.

The sitter is identified on a tag as Hon James Guthrie. James Guthrie (1792-1869) was a distinguished politician from Kentucky who held many important positions. Confirmation of the sitter's identity can be seen by comparison with a photo of Guthrie shown here as an older man which can be seen on the official Congressional website at GUTHRIE, James - Biographical Information and also at James Guthrie

The date of the image that this painting is made from is unknown, but as he was born in 1792 and looks to be aged in his 50's, it must have been copied from a photograph taken in the 1840's.

Comparison can also be made with an engraving showing here, which was made of Guthrie in 1852 for inclusion in a book entitled "Biographical Sketches of Eminent American Lawyers". This clearly shows him as older than the miniature and confirms the original image for the miniature must date from the early 1840's.

Guthrie was Secretary to the Treasury from 1853 to 1857. He was also a member of the Peace Congress in 1861 which tried to negotiate a means of avoiding the Civil War. As part of the process, on February 6 1861, a separate committee charged with drafting a proposal for the entire convention to consider was formed. The committee consisted of one representative from each state and was headed by James Guthrie.

He must have been one of the wealthiest men in Kentucky, as in the 1850 census he disclosed assets of $230,000 and in 1860 this had risen to $520,000. His fortune seems to have come from railroads and real estate. A city leader in Louisville, he invested in railroads, and served as president of the Louisville & Nashville Railroad and the Louisville and Portland Canal Company. He also helped found the consolidated University of Louisville and served as its second president.

He married Elizabeth Churchill Prather (1799-1836) on 13 May 1821 and they had three daughters, Ann Augusta Guthrie (1825-1872) , who married William Beverley Caldwell (1818-1892). Their second daughter was Mary Elizabeth Guthrie (1823-1901) who married Richard Henry Coke (1815-1845) and second Mr Caperton.

The youngest daughter was Sarah Julia Guthrie (4 Mar 1827-24 Jul 1901) who married John Lawrence Smith (1818-1883), showing here, who was an eminent chemist of the times. He was president of the American Association for the Advancement of Science (1872) and of the American Chemical Society (1877).

His collection of meteorites was the finest in the United States and on his death passed to Harvard. For more about him and the family, see Doctor J. Lawrence Smith

Smith adopted a scientific approach to meteorites, as shown in two 1867 papers by him at; American Journal of Science - Google Books Result

Also note that the National Academy of Sciences awards the J Lawrence Smith Medal for investigations of meteoric bodies. It was established through the Smith Fund, by gift of his wife, Mrs. Sarah Julia Smith. The medal showing here, was first awarded in 1888, but then there was a long gap until 1922. It has been awarded more often recently and is next scheduled for presentation in 2009. National Academy of Sciences: J Lawrence Smith Medal

Many family papers from these families may be found at the library of the Filson Society in Louisville, Ky. and the family headstones are gathered around the Guthrie monument there. For other miniature portraits in the collection related to Guthrie, see Eckardt, Otto - portrait of Jane Spottswood Keller...

[Thank you to the kind visitors who left the correcting comments, now incorporated above.]

James Guthrie died in 1869 and his grave can be seen at James Guthrie Gravesite and also at Guthrie, James 1255

Edwards, Thomas - portrait of John Webster

Although unsigned, this miniature has been attributed to Thomas Edwards (1792->1866) who was active as a miniature painter in Boston from 1821-1866.

The portrait is similar to fig 13 in Strickler. With reference to two miniatures by Edwards, Strickler comments "Stylistically, these two miniatures share a delicate stipple technique, most noticeable in the background and flesh tones, and softly modelled and rounded facial features". Those comments seem to apply here.

The sitter is identified by a note inside as "John Webster Sept 10th born 1804 died Salem". There is also an accompanying tag which is hard to read, but appears to state "I think Buffington - portrait over fireplace - John Webster only son of - Fabers (?) may have first wife Buffington - first line?".

These comments have enabled the identification of the sitter as John Webster (10 Sep 1804->1880) of Salem (which is 4 miles from Danvers, MA and 20 miles from Boston.) who married Martha Buffington (1 Jul 1805->1870) of Danvers on Mar 7 1832 at Salem. Thus it was probably a marriage portrait painted around 1832, with the date and location fitting with Thomas Edwards as the artist.

John Webster was the son of Elijah C Webster (27 Feb 1774-28 Jun 1848) and Sarah Dole (Sally Dole) (?-16 Dec 1842)who were married at Danvers on 13 Nov 1800. He had a brother Albert R Webster and a sister Almira W Webster who both died young in 1811 and 1814.

John was born at Salem on 10 Sep 1804. Martha A Buffington was born at Danvers on 1 Jul 1805, the daughter of James Buffington and Abigail Osborne who were married on Apr 14 1801. (There are references to a Capt James Buffington from this area who sailed as far as Ceylon.) John Webster seems to have initially been a company agent in the 1850 census, then in the 1860 census he described himself as a clerk, although he and Martha did already have one live-in servant. However, in the 1870 and 1880 census records, he was still employed aged 65 and 75, and gave his occupation as Treasurer of New Hampshire (?) Manufacturing Company and in 1870 he had assets of $18,000.

If this is the correct reading of the company name, there does appear to have been a New Hampshire Manufacturing Company of Dover that sold sheeting, shirting, calicoes etc. see OSV - Document Viewer - Doc # 677 which may have been where he worked. 1246