Portrait of Rogersville, Tennessee founding mother Mary Amis Rogers (1768-1833) by William Harrison Scarborough (TN/SC, 1812-1871), oil on canvas, circa 1831. Rogers is depicted late in life, seated at a table against a dark background and gazing slightly to the left at the viewer. She is attired in a dark dress and white head covering which is pinned beneath her chin and extends as a shawl over her dress, while her left hand rests on a large book, likely a Bible. This painting is featured in the book ART & FURNITURE OF EAST TENNESSEE by Namuni Hale Young, on page 74. Housed in a later cove molded dark wood frame. Sight: 29 1/2" H x 24 1/4" W. Framed: 37 1/2" H x 32 1/2" W. Note: This portrait and its pendant date from 1833, which makes them the earliest known W.H. Scarborough paintings. A photocopy of an original artist-signed, handwritten receipt associated with this painting and/or its pendant is included at the end of the photograph sequence. The receipt reads: "Received of Joseph Rogers fifty dollars / in full of all debts / July 23rd 1833 / W.H. Scarborough." History: Mary Amis Rogers was the daughter of Thomas Amis, a Revolutionary war Captain who was awarded 1000 acres of land in Hawkins County, where he erected a stone home in 1780 or 1781. Mary was born in North Carolina in 1768 and married Joseph Rogers, an apprentice of her father, in 1786. Thomas Amis gave the couple a tract of land in 1787, upon which a seat of justice was established for Hawkins County. In 1789, the town of Rogersville was chartered, and named after Joseph Rogers. Joseph and Mary Rogers were prominent members of the community, where Joseph worked as a merchant, and justice of the peace; Mary assisted him in running the couple's tavern/inn, and gave birth to the couple's 14 children. She died in 1833, a month after the death of her husband.  (Source: ART & FURNITURE OF EAST TENNESSEE.)

PROVENANCE: By direct descent through the Rogers and Walker families. See other related lots from this historic family, also in this auction. 

Overall good condition. Professionally conserved. Removed from the original stretchers, relined, and laid down on board. Very fine overall craquelure. Scattered, pinpoint retouches throughout, especially to figure and book. 2 3/4" x 1/2" area of retouching to black fabric above hand plus 3" x 1 1/2" area of inpainting to craquelure, lower right, in body. Frame abrasions with retouching especially to lower right, largest area 2 3/4" x 1/4". Faint stretcher marks to left, right, and upper edges. Refer to UV photographs.