Mary H. Hendrickson and her Grandson Charles Stillwell

Period1849

MediumOil on striped bed ticking

Dimensions46 × 39.5 in. (116.8 × 100.3 cm)

SignedSigned on the reverse, “Mary H Hendrickson / & her Grandson / Charles Stilwell / The former Aged 58 / the latter 4 years / H Jenkins painter / 1849.”

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Mrs. George Nevius, 1948

Object number3195

DescriptionElderly large woman facing forward holding her grandson, who is also facing forward. She is dressed in a black dress witih lace collar and brooch, with an elaborate day cap. She is holding some strawberries on a branch. The young boy is wearing a white shirt, brown jacket, dark grey pants, and brown shoes. A red drapery is depicted in the upper left corner of the portrait.
Curatorial RemarksThis large work is so far the only known double portrait by Harvey Jenkins. It and one other portrait of Mary Eleanor Van Mater also dated 1849 are the two earliest known works by Jenkins.NotesMary Hendrickson (1791 - 1852) was the daughter of Hendrick Hendrickson and Phoebe Van Mater. Her father was a Holmdel farmer who grew up in and later owned the Holmes-Hendrickson House, now one of the Association’s historic house museums. Mary’s daughter Gertrude Stoutenborough married George W. Stillwell, who was a butcher and stock farm owner from Shrewsbury. At the time of her death in 1852, Mary Hendrickson was living with her daughter’s family. Charles Stillwell (1845 - 1918), the youngest grandchild, managed his father’s stock farm for some years, but failed in business and sold out. He died in Red Bank of gas asphyxiation, leaving a wife and child.

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