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Gen. Schumacker and Daughter

Gen. Schumacker (Shoemaker) and Daughter

Clearcut as jewels are these small portraits in watercolor of two members of a Pennsylvania family. Electing the difficult course of delineating character in profile, the artist has executed his commission with great style. Nearly as important as the two figures are the backgrounds which appear as a further description of the subjects. The perspective of the stenciled room, chair, floor and table are set awry to show within one view the decorative order of a Pennsylvania interior. "General Schumacker" was probably Peter Shoemaker, brigade inspector of the 2nd Brigade of Berks County in the War of 1812; his prowess in arms is indicated in the battle map and background. The unidentified artist is one of the painters in watercolor who created full-length portraits of York, Lancaster, Lebanon and Berks County subjects between 1810 and 1830. Few of the poses and backgrounds seen in these iconic portraits have the distinction of those produced here.

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