Jasper Miles (American, 1782-1849)
Cynthia Brooks Hine
oil on panel
inscribed in pencil on verso Cynthia Brooks Hine / by / Jasper Miles, itinerant painter
9 x 6 3/4 inches.
This lot is located in Cincinnati.

Provenance:
Cowan's Auctions, Cincinnati, Ohio, Fine and Decorative Art, October 16-17, 2015, Lot 122.

Jasper Miles was originally from Connecticut but settled in Milan, Ohio in the mid-1820s. He lived and worked in Northern Ohio for the rest of his life and is recognized as an important regional portrait painter. This portrait of Cynthia Hine (1825-1855), who was born in Lake County, Ohio, was most likely executed in the late 1840s, shortly before the artist's death.

Jasper Miles may be the same artist known to Pennsylvania collectors as "Mr. Boyd." An 1812 pair of portraits attributed to "Mr. Boyd" were sold at Skinner on March 01, 2015 (Lot 101), and four portrait miniatures attributed to the same artist were sold on August 10, 2014 (Lot 401). In the description of the miniatures, Skinner noted that the name "Mr. Boyd" was identified as the artist, since one was inscribed on the verso with this name. They also suggest that "Mr. Boyd" may have been the sitter. Both Jasper Miles and "Mr. Boyd" used the same format: a profile view of the sitter painted in stark contrast against a grey background. Another similarly composed portrait attributed to Jasper Miles was sold at Garth's Auctions on May 18, 2013 (Lot 1089). That portrait included a pencil inscription on the verso identifying the artist as a "Mr. Miles."

It is possible that the sitters in Lots 21, 22, and 23, of this auction, are sisters or even the same person.

In overall fine and stable condition. Light deposits of dust and grim present to surface, particularly to lower edge at frame. Few superficial scratches/abrasions throughout, with errant spotting/marks to lower left and upper right of panel. Small, scattered spots of paint loss to dress. Panel does not rest flush with frame on either vertical edge, resulting in very minor frame abrasions. No apparent areas of inpainting under UV light examination.