Eleanor Taylor Lyell

Periodca. 1755 - 1775

MediumOil on canvas

DimensionsSight Size: 29 × 24.25 in. (73.7 × 61.6 cm)

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Anne Cooper Conover, 1937

Object number995

DescriptionA woman poses in almost full-face view, oriented towards the left, with dark brows above brown eyes. Her hair is worn pulled back from her face, although much of the hair style cannot be seen in the dark background. Eleanor wears a blue silk dress with a stomacher and elbow-length sleeves trimmed with ruffles, a blue silk rosette, and lace-edged sleeve ruffles. A transparent white kerchief is draped over her shoulders, trimmed with a lace border. The sitter wears a double row of large pearls choker-style, with what appears to be a ribbon bow fastened at the back of her neck. She holds a brown leather book in her left hand, her index finger marking place.
NotesThe curatorial files of the Historical Association include a note from donor and descendant Anne Cooper Conover dated 20 February 1937, reading "Gentlemen, I take pleasure in presenting to you two oil paintings - portraits of my great grandparents [actually great-great grandparents], Fenwick Lyell and his wife, Eleanor Taylor, which I understand you will attempt to restore; and if the work proves successful that you will hang the portraits in your building at 70 Court Street, Freehold." Funds for the original conservation work were donated by Mrs. J. Amory Haskell.

Collections

Portraits

ProvenanceEleanor Taylor (1736 - 1794), wife of Fenwick Lyell (dates unknown) to her daughter Mary Lyell (1758 - 1822), who married Benjamin Micheau (1760 - 1835); to her daughter Maria Micheau (1791 - 1880) who married George Cooper (1799 - 1853); to their son George Fenwick Cooper (1827 - 1904) who married Sarah Elizabeth Applegate (1829 - 1907); to their daughter Anne A. Cooper (1859 - ?) who married William Tylee Conover (1857 - ?).