Philadelphia Antiques Show 2016_

✷ 135 ✷ FROM THE COLLECTION OF… FROM THE COLLECTION OF… DONALDH. CRESSWELL PHILADELPHIA PRINT SHOP, PHILADELPHIA, PA SMALL BUT POWERFUL HISTORICAL ARTIFACT “ e Smile of Savage Triumph.” Pen and watercolor drawing on paper signed “Chas. Floyd, Sept. 8, 1832.” Portrait in circle measuring 4½" x 4½" (image). Charles Ranaldo Floyd (c. 1796–1845) was a miniaturist, portrait painter, and water colorist. Born in Georgia, he distinguished himself in the Seminole Wars and was an early settler of Florida. Croce &Wallace’s N. Y. Historical Society Dictionary of Artists in America states that “many of his miniatures, drawings, and sketches have been preserved.” Scarcity notwithstanding, this painting is a fascinating document by a white artist in the early Indian Wars. Floyd’s primitive abilities betray an intense hatred for Native Americans, and that emotion is typical of most early settlers in Jacksonian America. e native’s physiognomy is emphasized by color, and that face is of a savage imbued with animal cruelty. e man’s arm is crudely drawn, but the preciseness of his tomahawk shows a fascination and familiarity by the artist with the enemy’s weapon. An extraordinary document of Georgia and Florida history. My uncle, a scholar of the Jacksonian period in America, willed it to me as one who embraces history through study, preservation and being a dealer in historical prints and maps. STEVEN S. POWERS STEVEN S. POWERS WORKS OF ART & AMERICANA, BROOKLYN, NY Day Book of Abijah Powers (1727–1795) of Greenwich, MA ough I have yet to determine if Abijah and Mary are part of my genealogy, I was attracted to the graphology and my namesake within this early New England daybook. Abijah was a farmer and this book records his daily nancials, from 1773 until his death in 1795. In the middle of the book, Abijah dedicates a two page spread recording his and his wife’s birthdates (his is amended to show his death date as well). A few notable accounts other than the typical “forteen Bushels of Rey” [ sic ], is the rst day of the Revolutionary War: “April the 19, 1775, the slaughter of the Reagulars began at Lexinton” [ sic ]. e passing of his son Benjamin who fought in the revolution: “July the 3, 1776…died at Crown Point.” And “May the 19, 1780. at Day of Darkness and the Night that Followed.” A phenomena still not fully understood, but a day of darkness believed to be a result of forest res and heavy fog—but, at the time it was thought it might have been Judgement Day.