Isannah Greely, attributed to
William Lovett, circa 1795.
Isannah Greely (1775-1800) was the third of the six daughters of Jonathan Greely and Mary Hitchborn of Boston. On October 25, 1796, Isannah married William Raymond Lee (1774-1861) of Marblehead. She had a daughter, also 
named Isannah, before her untimely death in 1800. This portrait descended in the Greely family. It is offered with a morning brooch in memory of Isannah.
Set in the original octagonal gold bracelet clasp with beaded border, the reverse engraved with Isannah's name and birth date. The navette-shaped brooch with beaded border has a brightwork reverse and center aperture containing plaited hair.
2 inches high.
William Lovett (1773-1801), who died at the age of twenty eight, was the finest artist of his time in Boston. He worked there from 1795-1800, producing a small group of beautiful pieces, three of which may be seen in the Worcester Art Museum. Lovett also worked in Virginia with Benjamin Trott. A group of portraits signed by both artists are in the collection of the Virginia Historical Society. Lovett's influence on Trott is obvious in Trott's later use of the luminous qualities of ivory.