Historical Southern Painting - North Carolina Homestead - Belcross, Camden Co.
If you have interest in Eastern North Carolina Tidewater history and architecture, this painting may be a fine addition to your home or collection. It is an oil on board of the Sanderlin House in Belcross, Camden County. There is quite a bit of history written on a card on the back board that describes the family members of the house in the late 19th century.
Camden is the courthouse town for Camden County. It is a small town located on the east side of the Pasquotank River, a few miles from Elizabeth City. Belcross is an area just outside of town. Apparently two near-identical houses were built ca 1840’s by the Sanderlin brothers, William and Joseph. One was left to ruin and disappeared, the other seems to possibly remain. In any event, per the information included, this is a view of the house by artist Miss Ella Bidgood, ca 1895. An Ella Bidgood, born in Baltimore in 1855, has been identified and she was a resident of Norfolk, Virginia with her family in the 1900 census. She is likely the artist of this painting. It is painted in a somewhat naive style but competently shows details of the house in nice, vivid colors. The painting is not signed but the information on the back side seems completely reliable.
The painting itself is oil on board and measures 12” x 18”. It has been recently cleaned and varnished. It is in very good condition with no issues to report. It is housed in a substantial gold painted frame of the period with interesting detailing. Overall framed measurements are 19” x 24”. The frame is in good solid condition with no issues to report, other than expected very minor age-related wear. Note that the photos show some glare from the varnish in places that really doesn’t show in general light.
Southern paintings...
Category
1890s Folk Art Baltimore - Art