Joseph Barrell, Jr. (1765-1801)

Inscription: Inscribed in ink on trimmed paper inside traveling case: [a detailed description of the memorial scene on verso]

In the middle of the piece a handsome vase with these words in the body of it: Mans last retreat The angel of mercy sitting on the top of the urn with the scales of Justice in her hand, in one scale the word Mercy, in the other desent. The scale of mercy, greatly preponderating, so as the scale of desent, almost kicks the brain. Death with a smiling face leaning on one side. the urn, his scythe and hour glass broken at his feet, and under his feet this motto "the friend of of virtue". A weeping willow rising from the other side of the urn, and extending to the left till it almost touches the ground. At the extreme end beyond the urn, in the clouds a beautiful woman in flowing garments setting, by four, lovely girls, one about twelve years old, the rest infants and one entirely naked, the woman in the act of rising with both her Hands extended to receive a young man, who with Two boys and one girl all. Infants, are just setting out from the urn, and going towards the Woman. yet looking back, as if to behold, the persons on this side the urn which is a young man and woman weeping, and holding a lovely girl about four years old in their arms, looking after those that are retiring from the urn, an elderly man in a gown weeping and coming from the urn towards the young man and woman with one hand pointing to a circle the Emblem of Eternity in the middle of the space. beyond the urn, the word Happy in the circle and in his other hand presenting a scrowl, on the outsideof it "Submit for God is just". ----- upper part is the piece directly over the angel, of mercy the eye of Heaven pervading, the whole, the ---double that, enlighten the space beyond the urn, single on this side. The ground on this side the Urn, rocky. Holly and, ------ with Thorns, & --- with ---and there a drooping flower. The ground on the other side --- and covered with ------ and every ---the sky on the side the ------ gloomy, at the --- growing lighter and lighter it passes, the willow tree on the other side all serene and beautiful. Motto. "We Mourn, but Shall Rejoice."


Incsription on memento: HAPPY/DESPiRTY MERCY/MAN'S LAST RETREAT/SUBMTT FOR GOD IS JUST/THE FRIEND OF VIRTURE/WE MOURN BUT SHALL REJOICE

Purchased from a direct descendent of the sitter, William Dunham, Jr. through the Putnam family.