Joseph C. Van Mater

Periodca. 1820 - 1821

MediumPastel on paper

Dimensions25.1 × 21 in. (63.8 × 53.3 cm)

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Harold R. Fick, 1975

Object number1975.16.1

DescriptionThree-quarter length portrait of an adult male facing left, with blue eyes, reddish brown hair combed straight up above forehead, and medium length sideburns. He wears a black coat with a double row of buttons, a white shirt with collar points folded down, a high white stock tied in a bow, and a white vest with a standup collar. The subject poses in front of a landscape scene, with a shaded green hill on the left. Two tall trees are depicted above the sitter on the right. Blue sky shading to pink and yellow at the horizon suggest a sunrise or sunset. Mounted on white pine stretchers, and lined with newspaper. Fragments of an unidentified New York City newspaper remained.
Curatorial RemarksThis portrait has much in common with the other Van Mater portraits completed in the same time period. Joseph posed in front of an idealized exterior background, with tall leafy trees and a rolling grassy hill. The condition of Van Mater’s portrait today reveals the fragility of pastel portraits. Prior to being donated to Monmouth County Historical Association, the portrait suffered from moisture, abrasion, and poor treatment. NotesJoseph C. Van Mater (1770 - 1832) was a son of Chrineyonce Van Mater (b. 1730) and Eleanor Van Mater. He married a distant cousin, Catharine Van Mater (1784-1804) on 28 February 1803. The couple was married less than a year when Catharine died. Joseph never remarried. Joseph Van Mater was related to other Van Mater family members who also had portraits taken by Micah Williams during this time period. Van Mater owned and farmed a considerable tract of land, running from Tinton Falls to the Holmdel and Colts Neck area. Known as “Big Joe” to his neighbors, he was also the largest slave owner in Monmouth County, at one point owning ninety-nine African-Americans. Much was made in early Monmouth County histories of Van Mater’s “kindness” to his slaves, detailing how he treated them “like family.” As directed in his will, Van Mater’s slaves were freed after his death but received no financial bequests. Abrupt freedom without compensation resulted in fear and confusion for many of Van Mater’s former slaves. Other Van Mater family members provided food, clothing, and some monetary assistance to the men and women set adrift by Van Mater’s will.

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