Looking for an instant ancestor? This beautiful oil on canvas portrait of a young boy dates from a time before photography became the predominant way to save memories. According to the information that came with the portrait, the subject is Francis Webster Blackford, born on “G” Street, North West Washington, D.C., just a couple of blocks north of the White House, in 1832. The portrait is unsigned, but the information suggests that the artist was female. It appears to be mounted on its original stretcher and in its original gilt frame. The painting has been restored at some point with a canvas repair along the right side of the stretcher, mostly hidden by the frame and the surface has been lacquered. There is a tiny pin hole above the subject’s head. The frame has had several areas of missing plaster filled and it has been repainted and lacquered to stabilize the surface. With the frame the portrait measures 30 inches tall by 25 3/4 inches wide and is in excellent condition, a wonderful piece to display in a formal living room or library. 1097-