Susannah Paine
Portrait of a Woman, circa 1830
Oil on panel
27 x 20 inches
Susannah (sometimes spelled Susanna) Paine was one of the pioneering women artists of 19th century New England. She was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to a mariner-father who was lost at...
Susannah (sometimes spelled Susanna) Paine was one of the pioneering women artists of 19th
century New England. She was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to a mariner-father who was lost
at sea while she was still a young girl. Paine attended what she referred to as Rhode Island's best
girls academy where she was exposed to the art that would later become her professional pursuit.
At her mother's urging, she married James Phillips of Providence in 1819, a man she described as a
"taunting, sneering surly tyrant...who enjoyed burning bibles when angry." Their union lasted only
14 months, but before their separation, Paine conceived a child. Her son was born 3 months after
her separation from Phillips. She was granted custody of her son in a divorce, but Phillips got all of
her property, leaving her destitute. Her son died at eleven months of age.
In 1823, at the age of 32, Paine began to travel as an artist. She developed a clientele of women
who were proud of having their portrait painted by a woman artist. A letter in the Portland Advertiser
in 1827 recognized Paine's portraits and boasted, "Ladies must feel pride and pleasure in
patronizing a female artist."
On December 12, 1826, Paine placed an ad in the Portland, Maine newspaper which read:
PORTRAITS. Miss S. Paine respectfully informs the public that she has taken a room at Mrs.
Pritchard's in the new Brick Block, Freestreet, for PORTRAIT PAINTING---her former
successes in Providence, where she has been liberally patronized, inspire her with
confidence to solicit patronage; as she anticipates a very short stay in Portland, she will put
her Portraits at a very reduced price, and will engage to make them to entire satisfaction, or
receive no pay---those who will favor her with their patronage will please apply very soon.
Price-Oil pictures, $8.00. Do Crayons, $4.00.
Susannah Paine was active in New England, especially Rhode Island and Maine. To improve her
artistic endeavors, she took art training at the Boston Athenæum around 1832. She was a goodhearted person who raised a young girl whom she referred to as her adopted daughter and rented
an apartment for her mother and stepfather when she found that her half-brother had obtained the
deed to her parents' property and had them living in what she referred to as a "sort of out-house".
Her work is noted for appealing detail of her subjects such as ornate dress and coiled hair dos, she
painted primarily with oil on wood but did an occasional pastel portrait. Her works reside in the
collections of the Maine State Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Rhode Island Historical Society,
and the Cape Ann Museum. In 2011, a pastel portrait signed by Paine sold for $32,500 ($38,513
including buyer's premium).
century New England. She was born in Rehoboth, Massachusetts to a mariner-father who was lost
at sea while she was still a young girl. Paine attended what she referred to as Rhode Island's best
girls academy where she was exposed to the art that would later become her professional pursuit.
At her mother's urging, she married James Phillips of Providence in 1819, a man she described as a
"taunting, sneering surly tyrant...who enjoyed burning bibles when angry." Their union lasted only
14 months, but before their separation, Paine conceived a child. Her son was born 3 months after
her separation from Phillips. She was granted custody of her son in a divorce, but Phillips got all of
her property, leaving her destitute. Her son died at eleven months of age.
In 1823, at the age of 32, Paine began to travel as an artist. She developed a clientele of women
who were proud of having their portrait painted by a woman artist. A letter in the Portland Advertiser
in 1827 recognized Paine's portraits and boasted, "Ladies must feel pride and pleasure in
patronizing a female artist."
On December 12, 1826, Paine placed an ad in the Portland, Maine newspaper which read:
PORTRAITS. Miss S. Paine respectfully informs the public that she has taken a room at Mrs.
Pritchard's in the new Brick Block, Freestreet, for PORTRAIT PAINTING---her former
successes in Providence, where she has been liberally patronized, inspire her with
confidence to solicit patronage; as she anticipates a very short stay in Portland, she will put
her Portraits at a very reduced price, and will engage to make them to entire satisfaction, or
receive no pay---those who will favor her with their patronage will please apply very soon.
Price-Oil pictures, $8.00. Do Crayons, $4.00.
Susannah Paine was active in New England, especially Rhode Island and Maine. To improve her
artistic endeavors, she took art training at the Boston Athenæum around 1832. She was a goodhearted person who raised a young girl whom she referred to as her adopted daughter and rented
an apartment for her mother and stepfather when she found that her half-brother had obtained the
deed to her parents' property and had them living in what she referred to as a "sort of out-house".
Her work is noted for appealing detail of her subjects such as ornate dress and coiled hair dos, she
painted primarily with oil on wood but did an occasional pastel portrait. Her works reside in the
collections of the Maine State Museum, Portland Museum of Art, Rhode Island Historical Society,
and the Cape Ann Museum. In 2011, a pastel portrait signed by Paine sold for $32,500 ($38,513
including buyer's premium).