Sarah Peacock Schenck

Period1821

MediumPastel on paper

Dimensions25.6 × 21.5 in. (65 × 54.6 cm)

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of William C. Riker, 1973

Object number1973.2

DescriptionThree-quarter length portrait of an adult female facing right, with greenish-blue eyes, and light brown hair worn in short curls across her forehead and temples, and the remainder pulled back in a high coil secured by a figured tortoiseshell comb tilted slightly to the right. She wears a very high-waisted light blue dress with a bow tied in the center front, a double ruffle white collar with pleated edges, full long sleeves gathered at the wrists by white silk ribbon, and narrow white ruffled sleeve edge trim or cuffs. The subject also wears rectangular earrings with an orange-colored stone and pearl surround, a large beaded necklace also of a yellowish-orange beads separated by gold links, and a narrow gold ring on her right hand. The left hand supports the right hand over her lap. Mounted on wooden stretchers and once lined with an undated newspaper sheet from The True American.
Curatorial RemarksAt the time she posed for her likeness, Sarah Peacock Schenck was expecting the couple’s first child, Elias, who would be born in July of 1821. That may explain why her hands are crossed over her lap. Sarah’s hairstyle and choice of dress were those of a young woman rather than a matron. Both Sarah’s portrait and that of her husband include a detail not seen on any other Williams portrait. A thin blue silk ribbon was glued along the edges of each portrait, visible under the glass. The ribbon may have been added by the craftsman who framed the portraits. NotesSarah Peacock (1797 - 1861) was born in Monmouth County, a daughter of Daniel Peacock (1762 - 1823) and Anne Van Kerk (1770 - 1825). She married Jonathan Roelof Schenck of Marlboro in 1819. The couple had two children. Sarah and her husband are buried in the cemetery of Old Brick Reformed Church in Marlboro.

Collections