166 . GEORGE GARDNER FISH ( Nantucket 1822-1906 ) “ The Bride to Be ”, pastel on paper of the young girl holding a flower basket , original lemon gilt frame , signed lower center G . G . Fish , 1857 N . York . 35 ½ in . x 27 ½ in .
style . Signed and dated 1857 and inscribed “ NYork ”, the pastels are one of his earliest known works to have been executed after leaving Nantucket . It is believed that the “ Maidens ” pastel represents Fish ’ s two daughters , Madeleine and Anna , together with their friends , Caroline and Florence Starbuck , who were the daughters of Fish ’ s patron Matthew Starbuck of Nantucket ( see diCuricio , p . 90 ). Matthew was the son of Joseph Starbuck , an extremely prominent whaleship owner and merchant on Nantucket who built the locally famous “ Three Bricks ,” houses designed by the brothers Charles G . and Henry Coffin and placed side-by-side on Main Street , one each for Starbuck ’ s three sons . Matthew received the “ Middle Brick ”. A number of versions of The Maiden ’ s painting have surfaced over the years . One sold at Rafael Osona Auctions Aug . 2009 , one is illustrated in Robert A . diCurcio ’ s Art on Nantucket , pg . 90 .
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