Title

Portrait of Maria Sprank Mahowald

Creation Date

circa 1880 – 1911

Description

Framed pencil-drawn portrait of Maria/Mary Sprank Mahowald (1843-1911). Maria Sprank was born in Luxembourg and emigrated to the United States, where she settled in New Market and married Mathias Mahowald (also from Luxembourg) in 1862. 

The portrait depicts Maria in middle age. She is shown from the chest up. She wears a black, high neck gown with puffed sleeves. A row of buttons runs up the center of her dress to a ruffle and raised lace collar. Her hair is parted in the middle and pulled back. The lower corners and space around Maria's head are shaded in tones of beige, red, and black. 

The frame is made from wood painted black and gold. The edges of the frame are decorated with black curlicue vines. A band of gold is painted below the vines. The wood then slopes down in a groove, which is banded on the other side with more gold paint. A reproduction of the original line drawing made by the donor covers over the original in the frame. Two wooden slates nailed into the frame cover the back. A wire spans the wood for hanging. "Maria Sprank Mahowald/1843-1911/(wife of Mathias Mahowald 1830-1887) is written on the wood backing in black ink.