African American Black

Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE

Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE

Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE
Fine original painting by Caroline Martin Smith. This painting is oil on canvas and measures 20 1/4" by 16". It is housed in it's original 1 1/2" wide Newcomb Macklin picture frame with overall framed measurements of 23 1/2" by 19 1/4.

A nameplate on frame entitles this painting as: PRIVY COUNSEL. And identifies the artist as: CAROLINE MARTIN SMITH. The circled number 154 is on the back of canvas. Not dated but dates to circa late 1920's to mid 1930s.

Painting depicts two black women talking outside an apartment building with privies or outhouses in the back of the apartment building. Painting is in good condition with a little cracking to paint and a few very small minor paint losses. The paint is in good, stable condition and is not overly loose and lifting. The frame is by Newcomb Macklin and is also in good condition but has had white paint applied to front.

I removed just a little of that white paint to expose some of the gorgeous hand carved facets we occasionally see with Newcomb Macklin frames. I would love to redo this frame but have left that for the new owner. Repair to the painting is extremely minimal and unnecessary. I was able to find a couple references to this artist by googling: "Caroline Martin Smith" Delaware. We find her participating in the 1934 21st annual exhibition of Delaware Artists by The Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts.

That article lists the artists who showed at that exhibition and those names include Andrew Wyeth and N C Wyeth (yes, really). Another reference has her "executing moveable mural panels" in Wilmington with Bayard Berndt according to an article entitled: "WPA Artists Painting Decorative Panels". So, here we have an absolutely exquisite oil painting, circa 1930, of a pair of Black women speaking with each other in "Privy Counsel" outside an apartment building in Wilmington, Delaware. Questions always welcome and thanks for looking.

The item "Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE" is in sale since Sunday, October 31, 2021. This item is in the category "Art\Paintings". The seller is "mkvanvig1" and is located in Portland, Oregon. This item can be shipped to United States.

  • Size: 16" by 20"
  • Region of Origin: Delaware USA
  • Handmade: Yes
  • Artist: Carolyn Martin Smith
  • Production Technique: Oil Painting
  • Framing: Framed
  • Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
  • Style: Impressionism
  • Material: Canvas
  • Type: Painting
  • Title: Privy Counsel
  • Subject: neighborhood women
  • Certificate of Authenticity (COA): No
  • Culture: African American
  • Year of Production: 1930's
  • Original/Licensed Reproduction: Original
  • Unit of Sale: Single Piece


Antique 1930s AFRICAN AMERICAN OIL PAINTING BLACK WOMEN WILMINGTON DELAWARE