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Does the artist create the portrait? Does the portrait create the artist?
What happens when the wishes of an enslaved Black mother and the wishes of an unfinished self-portrait collide?
We'll bring you into the world of Baltimore Maryland in 1805, the home of free and enslaved Black people. We'll introduce you to the life of Joshua Johnson (1763-1824), the first recognized commercial portrait painter of African decent in North America. Born enslaved, he enjoyed the life of a free man with his family as he created magnificent portraits of Baltimore residents. He was a "self taught genius." His work is currently held in the Metropolitan of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, and numerous private collections. In January 2024 his portrait of Mrs. Martha Hall Dorsey and Mary Ann Dorsey sold for a world auction record price of $1,134,000.00 at Christie's Auction House annual auction of Important Americana.
Joshua Johnson created 80 portraits during his career.
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