Offered here is an 1897 painting of Fred Herd, who would go on to win the fourth U.S. Open a year after this painting was reportedly made. The back of the painting contains a handwritten date - '97 - and attributes this painting to an artist by the name of James Caldwell. When Herd won the 1898 U.S. Open he was the professional at Washington Park in Chicago. His winning share of the purse was $150, but such was his reputation as a drinker that he was not allowed to take the US Open trophy away until he had paid a deposit, as the USGA was worried that he might pawn it!

The painting itself measures 11" x 14" in old oval mat and was recently professionally framed to 16" x 19" since we sold this piece back in 2014 for $4,272.  Original portraits of 19th century US Open Champions are exceptionally rare, and the offered example is one of the finest we've encountered. More modern handwriting on the back of this painting also states that this painting was acquired from the Herd family in October 1987.