Alfred James Wiggin (American, 1823-1883) oil on canvas 19th century portrait of a young brunette woman in a ruffled collar and opal brooch. Inscribed, dated and signed on the reverse "Copied From an Old portrait / By A.J. Wiggin 1874." Artwork in antique, deep gilded wood frame measures 29.75" x 25.75". Artwork and frame in very good antique condition with scattered age appropriate wear. There have been three perforation repairs made to the canvas: one in an upper corner, and two at the bottom - all are in background areas.
From Wikipedia:
Alfred James Wiggin or A. J. Wiggin (1823-1883) was an American artist active in Massachusetts, known mainly for his painted portraits and landscapes. He lived in Gloucester and Boston.
Examples of his work are in the collections of the Cape Ann Museum, Historic New England, Lafayette College, the Peabody Essex Museum, and the Sandy Bay Historical Society.
Wiggin worked as a commissioned artist, providing artistic services to clients across Massachusetts. As a result, he produced many portraits, the exact number of which is undetermined. He also produced landscapes on commission, such as an 1859 oil color of a house in nearby Annisquam for Captain Oliver Lane, a homesick sailor.
Wiggin produced portraits of several significant American figures of the mid 19th century. He painted Zachary Taylor in July 1851, a year after the president's death. In 1869, he produced a portrait of General Benjamin Butler, who was then a member of the House of Representatives for Wiggin's local district.
