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Ball Hughes Salon
No. 8

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The Trumpeter By Ball Hughes, Boston, 1864 Poker work on wood panel, 24 in. by 19 in., in frame 30 in. by 26 in. After a 19th C. oil painting by Sir John Gilbert Digital image thanks to Douglas Schneible

The Trumpeter, partial view By Ball Hughes, Boston, 1864 Poker work on wood panel, 24 in. by 19 in., in frame 30 in. by 26 in. After a 19th C. oil painting by Sir John Gilbert Digital image by Sharon H. Garvey, © 2006

The Trumpeter, detail By Ball Hughes, Boston, 1864 Poker work on wood panel, 24 in. by 19 in., in frame 30 in. by 26 in. After a 19th C. oil painting by Sir John Gilbert Digital image thanks to Douglas Schneible

The Trumpeter, detail of the inscription on the back By Ball Hughes, Boston, 1864 Poker work on wood panel, 24 in. by 19 in., in frame 30 in. by 26 in. After a 19th C. oil painting by Sir John Gilbert Pyroengraved inscription on the back of the panel: "This Picture was burnt with a Poker after Gilbert's celebrated Painting of the Trumpeter Ball Hughes. Fecit. Boston. 1864" Digital image thanks to Douglas Schneible

Ethnographic art dealer and antique pyrography collector Douglas Schneible in Sheldon, Vermont acquired at auction in 2004 the above pyroengraving (also called poker work) by 19th century artist Robert Ball Hughes.

British pyrographic artist and conservator Susan M. Millis, notes that "an original study, dated 1859, of 'The Trumpeter' by Sir John Gilbert is in the Royal Academy Picture Library. The Ball Hughes pyrograph, presumably after that same painting, is mentioned in a 1946 article by Lovejoy with a picture. At the time of the Lovejoy article, the pyrograph was owned by the artist's great grandson Rudolph Brown, who was said to have owned others, as well as a portrait of Ball Hughes by his artist friend John Trumbull, dated 1839."

UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2008: According to Ball Hughes' descendant Dave Brown, it has recently been discovered that the original "Trumpeter" belonging to Rudolf Brown that was featured in Lovejoy's 1946 article is still in the family of Rudolf Brown, which means that the one belonging to Douglas Schneible is a second one done by Ball Hughes and mounted in an identical frame, as well. Ball Hughes often repeated popular themes, and this one is particularly appealing. It was because of the identical frame that heretofore it was assumed the one exhibited here was the same one. It is hoped that the current owners in the Brown family will be providing additional images of the one from the Lovejoy article.

Douglas Schneible has an extensive website The Arts & Crafts Gallery featuring his fine collection of antique pyrographic works and history along with his ethnographic art and artifacts.

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If you have either any questions or any information regarding this Ball Hughes work or others by this artist, please e-mail Douglas Schneible and the E-Museum Curator.

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© 2004, 2008, 2009 Kathleen M. Garvey Menéndez, all rights reserved.
Last updated 8 November 2009.