#adelaide chase

[collectionstilllife]

Adelaide Cole Chase (American,1868-1944) • Still Life with Grapes, Lemon and Cherries • Unknown date

[coxefamily]

The above two drawings of a boy in a sailor suit were recovered years ago from my grandparents' house in Brunswick. One is a heavily damaged original, and the other is an artist's recreation (although they darkened the hair), done by a studio in Brunswick, Maine.

For years I had no idea who the sketch was, but knew that it looked familiar.

Then I happened to look closer at the framed art on the wall behind Bobbie Winsor in one of the photos from my grandparents' wedding, and lo and behold, there is the same sketch on the wall over the mantle. (The woman just next to Bobbie is my grandfather's sister, Maryette Andrews Coxe (later Kirby). I'm not sure who the blonde woman is on the far right, but she kind of looks like a Baker gal. Any ideas?

So who could the sketch subject be? Is that Bobbie Winsor as a lad? (But wouldn't that be weird? I'm presuming this photo was taken at Susan Revere (Baker) Winsor's place before the wedding — wouldn't that be odd for her to have a portrait of only one of her children in such a prominent position?

Although, if it's not Bobbie, then who could it be? Anyone have any thoughts on this mystery?

Hilary Davis has some sleuthing to offer: “We could start with the portrait artist. On the damaged original there is a signature on the lower right that looks like “Adelaide Chase.”  There was a Boston artist named Adelaide Cole Chase (1868-1944).  Check out her wiki bio: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Adelaide_Cole_Chase  

Roland and Edith Baker seemed to have lots of artist friends from Boston (like Frank Benson).  Could be a leap here but could it be a childhood portrait of the Susan’s brother who died?  Hence the prominent position over her mantelpiece.  Philip M. was born around 1896 and this portrait could have been done by Ms. Chase when he was maybe 6 or 7.  The sailor suit fits the time period too.  Does the portrait resemble any photos of Philip taken around that time?”

But Pammy has some inside info: “This is kind of strange since I only have two things from my father and you have covered both in one week! This "lad" is my father, Bobby Winsor, yes, and I have it right here with me, framed.  Do I have the original? I don't know. But I have had it for some time. I don't remember who gave it to me. Funny to see it online and then look at it over there on the wall :)”