19th Century Miniature Folk Art Portrait of Anne Maria Scivyer of Brighton England 1852

This delightfully naïve folk art watercolour painting was painted in the year 1852. The all-original painting features a young lady seated wearing her Sunday best clothing - a blue dress and dangling gold earrings. The painting is on paper/card. The painting is signed by the artist in pencil reading ‘GF (indecipherable) del, A. M. Scivyer, May 12th 1852.’

The painting would have likely been painted in the coastal town of Brighton which is where the sitter lived all of her life. The area around Brighton pier was popular with itinerant portrait and silhouette artists. Not long after this painting was produced, several artists made the transition to photography which would soon become the go to method for capturing a likeness. The painting may be by the Itinerant portrait painted George George Azariah Lloyd.

THE SITTER

The sitter is Anne Maria Scivyer who was born in 1830 and was baptised that same year at Old Church, Saint Pancras, London, England. Anne was the daughter of Henry (b abt. 1809 – d 1879) and Barbara Julia Scivyer (b abt. 1804 – d 1878). Scivyer, who was a flyman. In the 1851 census Anne is living with her parents and siblings at 13 Marlborough Street, Brighton

Anne first married Alfred Vaughan (b 1833 – d 1864) in 1854 at Brighton St Nicholas, Sussex, England. Alfred was a flyman. Interestingly a Flyman was a Victorian-era theatre worker in the "flies" (scenery loft) who operated the rigging system of ropes and pulleys to raise, lower, and move scenery, curtains, and sometimes actors, creating flying effects and quick scene changes. Anne and Alfred had a son called Henry.

Anne went on to marry again after Alfred’s passing in 1854. In 1867 she married James Field at Brighton St Nicholas, Sussex, England. James was a carpenter and joiner. In the 1871 census Anne is living with her husband James and their children in Brighton. Anne’s parents, Henry and Barbara, are living next door with her son from her previous marriage.

In the 1881 census Anne is living with her husband James and their children at the Claremont Arms, 25 Sussex Street, Brighton. Anne is working as a beer retailer, and James is working as a carpenter and joiner.

In the 1891 census Anne is living with her husband James and their children at 40 ½ Ashton Arms, Brighton. James is working as a carpenter, joiner and beer house retailer. Anne Maria Field died in 1891 in Brighton.

The painting is housed behind glass in its original wood frame complete with its original backing board. This is the perfect item for anyone who loves all things folk art with a great social history background.

Measuring: Frame width 5 ½ (14 cm) by height 7 ¼ inch (18 cm). Aperture width 4 inch (10.5 cm) by height 5 ¾ inch (14.5 cm).

Condition: Light surface wear to frame commensurate with age. Some foxing and old water staining to paper, the edges of the paper are lighter in tone where the paper has moved slightly over the years.

Item id:16126