Featured Exhibit
Portrait of woman, possibly Sarah Comrin Lloyd (1733–1797), 1710–30. Unknown American artist; oil on canvas. Preservation Long Island purchase, 2014.2.
Portrait of a Lloyd woman
Although tradition states that this is a likeness of Sarah Comrin (sometimes Corwin/Curwin) Lloyd, the mother of James Lloyd III, her life dates do no align with the hairstyle and fashion of the sitter. The portrait possibly depicts a Lloyd woman from a generation earlier, possibly one of Henry I's two wives: Rebecca Nelson (1688–1728) or Mary Clark (1681–1749). Mary was a deeply religious woman and was known to devote the Sabbath to religious instruction and the teaching the Bible to all those around her, including the people she enslaved. Mary was present in Jupiter Hammon's life throughout his young adulthood and likely played a key role in his education and Christian upbringing. This portrait descended in the Lloyd family for some time before passing out of their possession. In 2014, it came up for auction and Preservation Long Island was fortunate to acquire it for the collection.
Portrait of a woman, possibly Sarah Comrin Lloyd (1733-1797)
