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Untitled, portrait sketch By Ball Hughes, 1850 Poker work on unframed wood panel, Approx. 8-1/4 in. tall by 6 in. wide Digital image by Lawrence Brown

Untitled, portrait sketch detail of the initials "BH" and the date "1850" in the lower left corner of the panel By Ball Hughes, 1850 Poker work on unframed wood panel, Approx. 8-1/4 in. tall by 6 in. wide Digital image by Lawrence Brown

Untitled, portrait sketch, verso By Ball Hughes, 1850 Poker work on unframed wood panel, Approx. 8-1/4 in. tall by 6 in. wide Digital image by Lawrence Brown

Untitled, portrait sketch, verso detail of markings: Harry A. Brown, Lynn and others not yet deciphered By Ball Hughes, 1850 Poker work on unframed wood panel, Approx. 8-1/4 in. tall by 6 in. wide Digital image by Lawrence Brown

Untitled, portrait sketch, close-up detail By Ball Hughes, 1850 Poker work on unframed wood panel, Approx. 8-1/4 in. tall by 6 in. wide Digital image by Lawrence Brown

Lawrence Brown, a direct descendant of Ball Hughes, inherited the above initialed and dated portrait sketch. Despite its few lines, this early sketch (one of the earliest dated pieces yet found) already appears to be a very distinct portrait. It is unfortunate that the subject of the portrait is unknown. The artist Robert Ball Hughes was born January 19, 1804, in London, England, U.K., and died March 5, 1868, in Dorchester, Massachusetts, U.S.A. Ball Hughes, as he signed his name on many of his works, i.e., without his first name Robert, was an eminent English sculptor, who had studied at the Royal Academy.

The provenance of this small portrait sketch is directly through the Brown family, who is related to Ball Hughes through marriage: Augusta Ball Hughes, the daughter of Ball Hughes and his wife Mary Eliza Wright, married Benjamin Franklin Brown; however, from there on the transfer of the little panel is not too clear. It is thought the panel may have gone down through the family from Frederick W. Brown to Harry A. Brown, then to Rudolph Henry Brown, and finally to Lawrence Brown, the current owner.

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If you have either any questions or any additional information to offer about Ball Hughes or the subject of this portrait, please e-mail Lawrence Brown and the E-Museum Curator.

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