Portrait
JOHN F. FRANCIS (1808–1886)
Portrait of Dr. Levi Oberholtzer (1832–1922), 1859
Oil on canvas, 36 5/16 x 29 1/4 in.
Signed, dated, and inscribed (on the back, before lining): Jno F Francis / Pinxit / June, 1859
RECORDED: “High Style,” Time (May 25, 1970), p. 83 illus. as hanging in the Belter Parlor // Marvin D. Schwartz, “Nineteenth-century American Rooms at The Metropolitan Museum of Art,” Antiques XCVIII (September 1970), plate 111
EXHIBITED: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York, 1970, 19th Century America [not in cat.], hung in the Belter Parlor // Whitney Museum of American Art, New York, 1972, 18th & 19th Century American Paintings from Private Collections // Westmoreland Museum of Art, Greensburg, Pennsylvania, 1984, 25th Anniversary Exhibition: Selected American Paintings, 1750–1950, p. 6 no. 45, 27 plate 14 illus.
EX COLL.: the sitters, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; to their son, Herman Oberholtzer, Phoenixville, Pennsylvania; [Argosy Gallery, New York, until 1969]; to private collection, New York, until 1983; to [Hirschl & Adler Galleries, New York, 1983–86]; to Shearson-Lehman Brothers, New York
Dr. Levi Oberholtzer (1832–1922) was a son of the late Elias and Catherine (Acker) Oberholtzer, and was born in Uwchland Township, Pennsylvania on October 27, 1832. He was raised on his father’s farm in West Pikeland Township. Oberholtzer received his education at Freeland’s Seminary, and then read medicine with Dr. Hiram Corson, of Plymouth, Montgomery County. He entered the medical department of the University of Pennsylvania, from which he was graduated in 1854.
In 1855, Dr. Oberholtzer settled in Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, where he embarked on a career in the drug business. In 1856 he erected a powder mill on a small stream that empties into French Creek, about three miles from Phoenixville. He carried on the manufacture of gas powder for blasting purposes, until 1864. About that time it became difficult to ship a large quantity of powder and he abandoned the project. In 1866 he went to Philadelphia and was engaged in the wholesale drug trade until 1875, when he returned to Phoenixville and with his sons continued in the drug business, and became involved in civic affairs.
