Figure 1.-- We do not know very much about Aaron Dean Fletcher other than he was a naive/primative artist working in Vermon and nearby Newyork. His work is of interest because of the mnany portraits which accurately depict clothing. The ainting here is undated, but is attributed to Fletcher. We would date the portrait to about the late 1830s eaely in Fletcher's cateer. Interestingly the boy holds a copy of The Boys Week Day Book which helps to date the portrait.

We do not know very much about Aaron Dean Fletcher other than he was a naive/primative artist working in Vermon and nearby Newyork. His work is of interest because of the mnany portraits which accurately depict clothing. The ainting here is undated, but is attributed to Fletcher. We would date the portrait to about the early 1830s. Interestingly the boy holds a copy of The Boys Week Day Book which helps to date the portrait.

Aaron Dean Fletcher (1817-1902)

We do not know very much about Aaron Dean Fletcher. Fletcher was born in Springfield, Vermont during . He had no artistic education, but taught himself to paint. He began painting around Springfield around 1835-39. He first painted neighbors and friends. He was by 1840 working in Keeseville, New York. He went west to Indiana (1856). But soon returned to Keeseville after only about a year (1902). He is best known for portrits, but did some landscapes. The portraits we have noted are rather somber. He is most associated with Vermont and nearby New York. His work is an example of the primitive/naive art that dominated American painting in the pre-Civil War era. His work is of interest to HBC because he depicted clothing in great detail . The painting here is an unsigned work, but is attributed to Fletcher.

Boy (late 1830s)

The boy in the portrait here is is unudentified (figure 1). He looks to be about 12-13 years old. He doesn't look very happy, but we attribute this in part tp Fletcher's lack of technique in paintibg expresions. We would date the portrait to about the late 1830s or perhaps the early 1840s. We think the 1830s is mostblikely. We certainly do not recall seeing those large pointed collars in by the 1850s. Notice the bow and vest. We would say it is definitely a pre-Civil War painting. Presumably he lived in Vermont or nearby New York.

Unidentified Child

Note the similarity in style here to the style of the painting of the boy in the suit, suggesting tha both were painted bu the same artist. This child we are unsure about. He looks like a boy and the top he is hold seems to conform this. Active toys were more likely to be for boys. The outfit is very interesting. I think he is wearing a dress, notice the low neckline of the black garment. I am not sure what the tan jacket-like garment with the ruffled collar would be called. It seems to serve the purpose of a smock, except the areas of the clothing that a child is most likely to soil is not covered. Also the garment is rather styling, unlike a utilitarian smock. Perhaps HBC readers will lnow what to call it.

The Boys's Weekly Day Book

Interestingly the boy holds a copy of The Boys Week Day Book which might help date the portrait. The book was apparently published in 1832. This suggests to us that the image here was painted in the 1830s. Given the artist age, we would gues the late 1830s is more likely than the later 1830s.

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Created: 6:10 AM 8/31/2004
Last updated: 6:10 AM 8/31/2004