May 18, 2021 Early Arms & Militaria
Stephen Minor (1760-1815) was born on February 8th, 1760 in Greene County, Pennsylvania. He moved to New Orleans, Louisiana during the Revolutionary War in 1779 and served as Captain in the Spanish Army. He then served as the Secretary to the Spanish Governor, Manuel Gayoso de Lemos. In 1791, he received generous land grants from the Spanish Government for his service. He turned his land grants into nine plantations. Some sources mention him as the last governor of the Louisiana Territory while under Spanish rule. He became the first president of the Bank of Mississippi in 1797. The accomplished artist was born in Merida, Yucatan, Mexico and studied at the Academy in Mexico City. He moved to New Orleans in 1782. Salazar painted many of Colonial Louisiana's prominent citizens such as figures associated with the government, the military and the church. He was the first significant painter to work in New Orleans and is not known to have painted in any other locations before his death in 1802. CONDITION: This stately and historically important portrait has been professionally cleaned. There is some minor restoration of paint in the lower right corner of the painting to the uniform sleeve and negative space around it. There is some inpainting of epaulets and top of the uniform; minor hair highlights. Appears to be original stretchers and unlined canvas. It is in an old, period frame with chipping and some missing plaster surfaces. DRG
ADDENDUM: This lot has been removed from the auction.
Item Dimensions: Frame: 34 - 1/2" x 42 - 1/2". Painting: 28 - 1/4" x 36 - 1/4".