Recto and Verso The stories behind 19th century American portraits on this blog have so far spoken to the lives of people on the front of the canvas. The front of an artwork is referred to formally as “recto.” Verso” is the term for the back. The back of a painting is literally a support system. Beginning with this blog, …
Stories Behind the Portraits: James Sidney Rollins
James Sidney Rollins was George Caleb Bingham‘s “warmest personal friend.” This re-discovered Bingham portrait descended in the Rollins family to a great-granddaughter who had always been told it was the work of an unknown artist. She wanted the people of Missouri to have it. When the painting arrived in the Midwest, I immediately recognized the artist as George Caleb Bingham. Other experts and …