American Art Collaborative

Waist-length, three-quarter profile portrait of a man with wavy brown hair parted on the left, and side whiskers, wearing a black coat, white shirt, high white collar and white stock. The miniature is mounted in a gold, oval frame, with a braid of hair under glass on the reverse. The sitter may be Robert Eden Handy, a businessman and soldier, who was born in Pennsylvania and in 1834 moved to Texas where he established a real estate partnership with William Lusk. They became joint founders of Richmond, Texas. During the Texas Revolution Handy served briefly on Sam Houston's staff and fought at the battle of San Jacinto. He died in late 1837.