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Portrait of Jesus Aguilar, 1934
George Frederick (American, 1889 - 1964)
Oil on canvas; 24 × …
Jesús Aguilar
Portrait of Jesus Aguilar, 1934
George Frederick (American, 1889 - 1964)
Oil on canvas; 24 × …
Portrait of Jesus Aguilar, 1934 George Frederick (American, 1889 - 1964) Oil on canvas; 24 × 18 in. 88.41.1 Gift of Frances Sepulveda

Jesús Aguilar

ClassificationsPaintings-oils
Artist George Frederick (1889-1964)
Subject Jesus Aguilar (died 1937)
Date1934
Made AtCalifornia, United States, North America
MediumOil and composition board
Dimensions24 × 18 in. (61 × 45.7 cm)
Framed: 29 1/4 × 23 1/4 × 1 1/4 in. (74.3 × 59.1 × 3.2 cm)
Credit LineGift of Frances Sepulveda
Object number88.41.1
DescriptionJesús Aguilar, who passed away in 1937, was a farmworker and a member of a prominent San Juan Capistrano Californio family. His ancestor, Blas Aguilar, was born in San Diego in 1808 and was the magistrate of San Juan Capistrano in 1848. Governor Micheltorena gave a Mexican land grant to the Aguilar family in 1844. Blas Aguilar acquired land in San Juan Capistrano, including an adobe that had been built in 1794 to house the Acjachemen (Juaneño) people who worked at the mission. In 1845 Aguilar turned the adobe, now a museum, into a hacienda known for its elegance and beauty.

The provenance of this painting was a mystery to Bowers staff for many years. Although its subject was known, there was no record of who donated it or when until an old letter was discovered, revealing that the painting was acquired for the museum by Mrs. F. E. Coulter, former Bowers Curator and Director, from Mrs. Frances Sepulveda in May of 1940. The Sepulvedas and Aguilars were both prominent OC Rancho families who united through marriage. One of Jesus Aguilar's daughters was married to a Sepulveda.
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