Gustavus Hesselius Portrait 1740s Extremely Rare....Should go to a Museum Start Price USD 25,000.00 Current Price USD 25,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Sunday, July 06, 2008 End Time Wednesday, July 09, 2008 Location linwood, PA See more about 'Gustavus Hesselius Portrait 1740s' Description Gustavus Hesselius , 1682-1755, American portrait painter, b. Sweden, settled c.1712 in Philadelphia. He was the earliest portrait painter and organ builder in the United States. His Last Supper (1721-22) for St. Barnabas Church in Prince Georges co., Md., was the first recorded public commission awarded an artist in the United States. Hesselius's portraits of himself and his wife (c.1740) are owned by the Pennsylvania Historical Society. In later life he was assisted by his son, John Hesselius, 1728-78, who later settled in Maryland and painted more than a hundred portraits of Southern and Philadelphia families. He was an early instructor of Charles Willson Peale......This is an original Gustavus Hesselius portrait of Anna Goetschi Wirz, painted in Philadelphia in 1740.  25 x 30.  The frame is not original.  Anna Goetschi's father, Rev. Moritz Goetschi, led an expedition from Zurich, Switzerland, in 1734.  Her mother, Ester Werndlin Goetschi, was among the group, as were some siblings.  Anna married Johannes Conrad Wirz (b. Nov 30, 1706 in Zurich) in Newwied during the winter while they were waiting for the ship to leave Rotterdam.  On May 29, 1735, the "Mercury" arrived in Philadelphia.  Rev. Goetschi died the following day.  Mrs. Goetschi died Nov 24th.  Anna and Johannes made their home in Hundtingdon County, NJ, across the Delaware River from present New Hope, PA.  In 1739 Henry Goetschi, an itinerant pastor of the German Reformed Church, started performing baptisms, etc., in Egypt, PA, just north of Allentown/Bethlehem.  Johannes Wirz took over in 1742, continuing until 1752.  Meanwhile, Gustavus Hesselius was making trips up to the Moravian Church in Bethlehem.  In 1746 he moved there while he built and installed the organ in that church.  One of Anna's brothers is recorded as having attending activities at the Church.  Anna had her portrait painting by Gustavus Hesselius.  In addtion, there was a Synod in Philadelphia in 1747.Informal appraisal at $250,000. No reserve. Very rare.  Checked out 15 years ago by Winterthur Museum.  Been in the family for generations.  Sold a couple of his son John Hesselius's portraits a few years ago.   Email me with any questions.  You may come look at the painting as well.  I live 20 minutes from Philadelphia and 15 minutes from Wilmington, Delaware.  I can always drive to you to show you the painting if you are close. Place a Bid!