📄 Letter, Frank J Tone to Katharine Tone Harrington, Apr 30 1942

Frank Jerome Tone (1868-1945) wrote to Katharine Spofford Tone (1904-1983) about a painting of John Tone (1719-1791) which he had acquired. See John Tone's page for a picture of it.

April 30, 1942

Mrs. Preston Meeker Harrington, Jr.,
19 Depeyster Ave
Tenafly, N.J.

Dear Katherine:

Frederick Peters of New York, antiquarian and art collector, has obtained for me recently a very beautiful portrait of John Tone, the first of our family to come to America, who was born in Dublin in 1719 and came to New Jersey in 1740. The painting is by Henry Benbridge and is dated October 5, 1778.

I am sending you a photograph of the portrait and might say that the painting is far finer than the photograph. It is full of character and has a vital interest which the photo fails to convey.

I am glad to tell you that the Tone History on which I have been working for several years will go to the printers now within a very short time.

With very best wishes,
Sincerely yours,
Much love
Uncle Frank

Enclosed is a typed page regarding the painter, Henry Benbridge.

My archives also include a portrait of John Tone's wife Margaret Harvey (1722-1817), although this letter makes no metion of it. The portrait of Margaret is attributed to Matthew Pratt (1734-1805).