George Washington1860–187322 1/2 x 17 " (57.1 x 43.2 cm)
Frame: 27 3/4 x 22 3/8 x 1 7/8 " (70.5 x 56.8 x 4.8 cm)Reverse painting in oil on glassGift of Mr. and Mrs. Harris S. Goldstein1986.2.10Bust of George Washington, 3/4 facing right. In black coat, white high collar and jabot, shaded with grey tones. Appears to be wearing a curly grey-white wig. Black (hair) ribbons are visible along back of neck to shoulder. Eyes are blue, lips red, cheeks pink. There is shading along the proper R side of face and neck. The background is plain, painted dark brown. Brushstrokes are evident overall. Frame: 2 5/8" wide, wood cove moulding with gold painted liner.152423302William Matthew PriorPaintingsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.Nonehttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26674http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12336http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster13128http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824East BostonBaltimoreEast BostonBaltimoreUnited StatesUnited StatesMassachusettsMarylandPaintingsAmerican Folk Art MuseumEast BostonBaltimoreportraitWilliam Matthew Prior was a prolific and masterful portrait and ornamental painter who is also known today for his entrepreneurial marketing approach: he was capable of painting naturalistic likenesses but also offered a more abstract style "without shade" that he could paint quickly and inexpensively. He was long an admirer of painter Gilbert Stuart, and, in 1850, after three years of effort, Prior was given permission to copy the Stuart portrait of George Washington in the Boston Athenaeum. Prior's copy served as a model for at least two signed and six attributed works; he also painted at least two signed and four attributed pendant portraits of Martha Washington. Prior began offering reverse paintings on glass late in his career. In 1862 the artist charged eight dollars for a single glass painting and fifteen dollars for a pair of Washington portraits.
Lee Kogan, "George Washington," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012–2013.PAINTINGhttp://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26674http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12336http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster13128http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26674http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12336http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster13128http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster26674http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster12336http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster13128http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster882418601873 1986 2 1 portraitWilliam Matthew Prior was a prolific and masterful portrait and ornamental painter who is also known today for his entrepreneurial marketing approach: he was capable of painting naturalistic likenesses but also offered a more abstract style "without shade" that he could paint quickly and inexpensively. He was long an admirer of painter Gilbert Stuart, and, in 1850, after three years of effort, Prior was given permission to copy the Stuart portrait of George Washington in the Boston Athenaeum. Prior's copy served as a model for at least two signed and six attributed works; he also painted at least two signed and four attributed pendant portraits of Martha Washington. Prior began offering reverse paintings on glass late in his career. In 1862 the artist charged eight dollars for a single glass painting and fifteen dollars for a pair of Washington portraits.
Lee Kogan, "George Washington," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012–2013.PAINTING