Charcoal portrait 30 x 40 Whats it worth?

We were told that......This is a charcoal portrait of Walter Spalding made in 1897 by M. E. Weaver. He became secretary of state in 1924. He is also said to be cousin of Linus Pauling, who won the Nobel Prize in chemistry and Nobel Peace prize. It was purchased as is with frame in an estate sale for under $20 in the late 90's. The picture measures 30 x 40 The frame measures 39 x 49

 

Can't imagine much.
Not good work at all.
Distortion is dizzying to me

 

looks like a child......& I thought your Sec of State today was bad....I guess early on they were using child labor !!

 

I think it is delightful, a charming picture that I'd be very pleased to own.

 

Some old photos have that distortion. I'd say it was done from a photograph and it's obviously the man as a child. It's fairly awful imho.

 

To a member of the Spalding family, it might be priceless. To anyone else...

Debora

 

the frame might be worth 20....so i'd say altogether....$40.

 

The distortion is just the angle of the camera IMHO!!!!! BEHOLD!!!!



And I think he's (was) a very lovely, well-to-do little young man!!! Nice charcoal!!!!!

 

Some one loved that little boy. But I do think executed from a photograph.

Debora

 

I am not a photographer so thank you for cleaning up the distortion Aquitaine. I forgot to note that his eyes are blue and cheeks are rose colored on this charcoal.

So no one knows of the artist M E Weaver? The date next to the signature is 1897. I was hoping a historian would chime in on this one

 

I DO see the color in his eyes and cheeks now!!!! NICE!!!!!!!

 

By way, I see no Spalding on this list of U.S. Secretaries of State.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_...he_United_States#List_of_Secretaries_of_State

Debora

 

And, at a glance, appears Spalding was Pauling's wife's brother-in-law. Correct spelling of surname seems to be "Spaulding." Born 1886. Archive here.

http://scarc.library.oregonstate.edu/coll/pauling/catalogue/pauling09_41-50.html

Photograph of family home here with more info.

http://www.waymarking.com/waymarks/...emeketa_Street_Historic_District_Salem_Oregon

And grave here.

https://www.findagrave.com/cgi-bin/fg.cgi?page=gr&GRid=3935219

Debora

 

Awesome Debora!! Wonder what that date of 1924 really was? The seller either remembered wrong or made it up. Thank you very much so far

 

If only we could see this one or one of him in 1897 lol
192?i.14.
Walter Spaulding. "Walter Spalding / Nettie's husband / AHP's brother-in-law." Photographer unknown. Black and white print. 1920s.

 

This is fascinating and I love history. I think Walter would flip to hear a couple from California ended up with his portrait and discussing him in a online forum lol I do not see any Spauldings that I could send this to or reach out to. The artist is a mystery to find as well.

 

In addition to his widow, survived by only one child, a daughter Leone Spaulding. Both of Salem.

Debora

 

Same year, she (the daughter) married James Atkin Bennlson.

Debora

 

That head could hide a buffalo.

 

AW, 'cmon!!! His body hasn't quite grown to his brains yet!!!!!!!!!!!!