Portrait of a Portuguese Gentleman

#5692PP. Dated Nov. 1828. Probably Baltimore. Oil on canvas. Original stretcher. Appears to be original gold leaf and gilt late Empire European frame, but possibly reframed in late 1800's by Wunderly Bros. of Pittsburgh, PA (see label on back) who also traveled to Europe to buy art. Signed M. J. de Franca. This is possibly a self-portrait but more likely a portrait of his patron to whom it was given (see inscription on back). Manuel Joachim de Franca was born in Portugal in 1808 and received art training there prior to emigrating to America in the late 1820's -- probably around 1828, which would imply the inscription on the back of this painting was shortly after his arrival in Baltimore. He soon located to Philadelphia, where he was active from 1830 to 1842, and then to St. Louis, where he was the most fashionable portrait artist of the city from 1844 until his death in 1865. The artist has other portraits in the collections of the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Brooklyn Museum, the Missouri Historical Society, and the Maryland Historical Society in Baltimore (#PP10.113, a portrait of Mrs. James E. Yeatman). (The Yeatman name is associated with an English company that specializes in Portuguese wines.) His works have also been in special exhibitions, including at the National Academy Museum in 1997 reviewed by the New York Times. He is listed in numerous reference books on artists, including "American Artists 1649-1945 at Auction" (Currier, 1998)& "Who Was Who in American Art" (Falk, 1999). De Franca's most famous portrait, of Henry Clay, now hangs in "Ashland," Clay's historic home -- having been owned by the McCormick family in Chicago prior to that. Inscription on back of painting, in Portuguese: "Chegei esta Cidade em 23 de Outubro. Tendo o original d'este o meu Protector e Amigo. M. J. de Franca. Pintosi em Novembro de 1828." Very good. Some restoration to frame. Some roughness on canvas. Translates something like: "Arrived this city on October 23. I give (submit?) this (an?) original of this to (of?) my patron and friend. M. J. de Franca." Painting recently cleaned. Height: 38" (framed), Width: 34" (framed). $4,500.00.