Samuel F B Morse (USA 1791-1872) “The Goldfish Bowl”

Samuel Finley Breese Morse (AMERICAN,1791-1872) oil painting on canvas titled “The Goldfish Bowl” depicting Mrs. Richard Carey Morse and her two children; Elizabeth and Charlotte. Absolutely a rare piece of American history with museum grade provenance. This is the original painting with amazing provenance was gifted by Samuel F.B. Morse himself to his niece. Samuel F.B. Morse is the inventor of the single wire telegraph and creator of the “ Morse code” which would become the primary language of telegraphy in the world. This painting was on exhibit at the Guggenheim Museum, Spain recently till now. This Painting is also accompanied by handwritten documents by the artist as well. Our Colleagues at Sotheby’s relayed to Elite Auctioneers regarding this painting stating that this painting appears to be slightly more developed than the other version at the Smithsonian. This piece comes with a full detailed condition report by Munson-Williams – Proctor Arts Institute (see photos). Mounted in wooden frame. Canvas on stretcher measure approx. Canvas on stretcher measures approx. Measures approx. es 29 3/4 x 27 7/8 in. (75.5 x 63 cm.). Measures approx. 39 1/2″ height x 34 3/4″ width (75.6cm x 9.5cm) overall including frame. PROVENANCE: Mrs. Richard Carey Morse, New York Mrs. Lottie Morse Hodge, Hartford Mr. Robert C. Hodge Mr. Robert C. Hodge, Jr. Gilbert Colgate Mrs. J. Wright Rumbough LITERATURE H. B. Wehle, Samuel F. B. Morse, American Painter, Occasioned By An Exhibition Of His Paintings, February 16 through March 27, 1932, Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1932, no. 58, illus. RELATED LITERATURE P. J. Staiti and G. A. Reynolds, Samuel F. B. Morse, New York, 1982, pp. 78-80, fig. 84, illus. In 1832, Richard and Sidney Morse, brothers of the artist, founded the New York Observer, a religious newspaper. During S. F. B. Morse’s career, Richard gave him moral and financial support. H. B. Wehle, in his Study of Morse, says that in 1832 when Morse returned from Europe with the principles of the telegraph completed, “His brothers Sidney and Richard met him at the foot of Rector Street… and, finding his pockets empty of funds and his head full of invention, they supplied him with a place to sleep. During these years after his return, he lived from hand to mouth, fiddling with his invention, with the Academy, and with finishing his European paintings. He took a few pupils and probably painted a few portraits.” It was during this time that the portrait of Richard’s wife and daughters was probably painted, possibly out of gratitude for his brother’s assistance. Two versions of the portrait are known, as the artist is believed to have made one for each of his two nieces. Lottie Morse, who was five years old when the painting was executed, was later given this version of it by her mother. The other version went to Lottie’s sister. The second version of this painting entitled The Goldfish Bowl, is in the collection of the National Museum of American Art in Washington, D.C.