R.M.S. TITANIC: SCHNABEL - 19th CENTURY AMERICAN PORTRAIT OI...

Estimate

£15,000 - £25,000

R.M.S. TITANIC: SCHNABEL - 19th CENTURY AMERICAN PORTRAIT OIL ON CANVAS OF TITANIC SURVIVOR ELEANOR ELKINS WIDENER.

Beautiful and stately original portrait, oil on canvas, depicting First-Class survivor Eleanor Widener (nee Elkins) circa 1880s. The canvas measures approx. 25ins. x 30ins. (63cm x 76cm) with an overall size including frame of 34ins. x 39ins. (86cm x 99cm). The portrait is housed in a magnificent period gold leaf frame that is original to the piece. When Mrs Widener sat for this portrait, she would have likely been in her 20s. The Widener mansion, known as Lynnewood Hall, is in Elkins Park, U.S.A. The 110-room Georgian-style mansion included a sun-lit art wing in which this portrait was likely displayed. The mansion still exists, although no longer in the Widener family.

The painting is signed by E. Schnabel besides Mrs. Widener's left shoulder. Edward Schnabel was a German/American portrait artist based in Philadelphia, sharing a studio there with John F. Finkeldey. Schnabel truly captured the essence and beauty of his subject in this painting. Examples of Schnabel's work are held at the Smithsonian and also the Library of Congress.

Mr and Mrs George D. Widener boarded the Titanic at Cherbourg with their son, Harry Elkins Widener, Mr Widener's manservant, Edwin Keeping, and the Widener's maid, Amalie Gieger. They occupied First-Class cabins C80/82. The Wideners are renowned for having hosted the dinner for Captain Smith on the night of the disaster. Questions have arisen as to whether Smith had imbibed too much alcohol at this dinner party but these rumours have been founded on conjecture rather than fact.

After losing her husband and son, Harry, Mrs. Widener made a large donation to Harvard University for the creation of the Harry Elkins Widener Memorial Library which continues to house Harry's large collection of books. Today, it is considered to be the world's largest academic library. Although Harvard maintains over 700 portraits throughout its halls, it does not possess a portrait of its library's benefactor.

Eleanor Elkins Widener died in Paris on 13th July 1937. Upon her death, her estate passed to her son, George Dunton Widener, Jr. Upon his death in 1971, his estate passed to the Widener's grandson, Fitz Eugene Dixon, Jr., a Philadelphia philanthropist and the son of the Widener's daughter. Upon Mr Dixon's death on 7th August 2006, he was interred in the Widener family mausoleum near Elkins Park and some of his estate items, including this portrait of his famous grandmother, were distributed.

The painting was restored by the Dixon family with two small areas of visible retouching in the upper right background not affecting the image. There is also a very minor loss to the frame in the upper left corner. The frame was professionally relined and re-stretched. The reverse of the original frame is inscribed "Eleanor Elkins" in period writing, and "Mr. Dixon" was written in white chalk on the new stretcher by the restorer.

The artist did an impeccable job choosing a background colour which created the perfect contrast for his subject's cream-coloured facial features and her striking blue eyes.

We are unaware of another period portrait of a renowned Titanic passenger such as this coming to public sale. This lot may present a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to acquire an original period portrait of one of Titanic's most notable and influential passengers. A true museum piece.

Provenance: Eleanor Elkins Widener collection, thence by descent. Ex-Henry Aldridge and Son lot 248 October 2009.