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Charles Carroll of Annapolis, by Justus Englehardt Kühn, c. 1712. Oil on canvas. 53 7/64 x 38 21/32 in. (134.9 x 98.2 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1949-69-3.
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Eleanor Darnall, by Justus Englehardt Kühn, c. 1710. Oil on canvas. 54 1/64 x 44 1/64 in. (137.2 x 11.8 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1912-1-5.
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Henry Darnall III, by Justus Englehardt Kühn, c. 1710. Oil on canvas. 54 3/32 x 44 11/64 in. (137.4 x 112.2 cm). Maryland Historical Society, Accession: 1912-1-3.
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Medium/Discipline: Painting
Birthplace: Germany
Maryland Affiliation: Active while in residence
Prominent Theme: Portraits
Gender: Male
Race/Ethnicity: White
Biography: Justus Engelhardt Kühn, a native of Germany, is first documented as having applied for naturalization at Annapolis in 1708. He became the churchwarden at St. Ann's at Annapolis in 1717; he died six months later. Scholar J.H. Pleasants wrote that a creditor's inventory of his estate, which was administered by Charles Carroll I, the "Settler", indicates that Kühn was a lover of books, music and clothes, lived beyond his means and augmented his portrait-painting career by painting coats of arms. Pleasants suggests that the elaborate scenic backgrounds in portraits of children painted by Kühn may have been inspired by Italianate engravings or by memories of the formal gardens of German estates.A portrait of Eleanor Darnall depicts the daughter of Henry Darnall II of "the Woodyard" of Prince George's County and his wife, Ann Digges. Eleanor married Daniel Carroll of Upper Marlboro, Prince George's County, in 1728 or 1729. Their son, John Carroll, was the archbishop of Baltimore. The family was distant relatives of Charles Carroll I, the "Settler."
Selected References: Pleasants, J. Hall. Two Hundred and Fifty Years of Painting in Maryland (Baltimore: Baltimore Museum of Art), 1945.
Other Publications: Pleasants, J. Hall. Justus Engelhardt Kühn.
Maryland Institutions Holding Artworks: Baltimore Museum of Art; Maryland Historical Society
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