Charles Morgan

Periodca. 1830

MediumOil on canvas

Dimensions30.8 × 25.5 in. (78.2 × 64.8 cm)

ClassificationsPortraits

Credit LineGift of Mrs. Theodore Blackwell Morgan, 1938

Object number1113

DescriptionThree-quarter length portrait of a young man facing left, with a round face, dimple in his chin, gray eyes, and a thick head of reddish-brown hair combed forward. He wears a black jacket, a white shirt with high wing collar, and a white stock. A crescent shaped stick pin appears to be of gold with stones set in it. The subject, seated on a Duncan Phyfe-style sofa with a carved end, holds a leather bound book in his right hand. His index finger marks his place.
Curatorial RemarksThis portrait, executed about 1830, has recently been attributed to Micah Williams, a noted pastel artist from New Brunswick, Middlesex County, who also worked much less frequently in oil on canvas. More typical Williams pastel portraits of Charles's older brother Jonathan Morgan (1798 - 1867) and his wife Dinah Van Wickle (1803 - 1882) remain in the hands of descendants. They were included in the 2013 exhibit on the artist held at the Monmouth County Historical Association, catalog numbers 45 and 46. Charles and his brother share a number of physical characteristics, including a round face, light color eyes, and a full head of reddish-brown hair combed forward. The portrait of Charles was apparently taken before his marriage in 1832 to Elizabeth Blackwell, as her companion likeness is by a different artist (accession number 1114).NotesCharles Morgan (1808 - 1852) was a son of General James Morgan (1757 - 1822) and his second wife Ann Van Wickle (1784 - 1869). In 1832, he married Elizabeth Blackwell (1813 - 1885) in Trenton, Mercer County. She was the daughter of Jacob Blackwell and his wife Elizabeth of Hopewell Township, Hunterdon County. The Morgans resided in South Amboy Township, Middlesex County, where they became the parents of five children. Charles, who was a farmer, died on 1 September 1852, at the age of forty-four. In 1857, his widow remarried to Judge Columbus C. Rockwell.

Collections

Portraits by Micah Williams

ProvenanceCharles Morgan (1808 - 1852), to his son Theodore B. Morgan (1843 - 1888), to his son Theodore B. Morgan (1881 - 1937), to his widow Harriet Wheeler Morgan (1884 - 1946).