Martha Washington1860–187323 1/2 x 17 1/4 " (59.7 x 43.8 cm)
Frame: 28 x 22 x 1 3/4 " (71.1 x 55.9 x 4.4 cm)Reverse painting in oil on glassGift of Mr. and Mrs. Harris S. Goldstein1986.2.20Picture: Bust of Martha Washington, 3/4 facing left. Wearing white scarf on head (trimmed in grey fur?), tied under the neck ( and with a decorative bow CT ); black dress with white shawl draped over proper L shoulder - shaded with grey/lavendar tones. There is some depth to the sitter's body - sloping shoulders and upper arms visible and effect of shawl over bosom. Hair is light brown/grey and worn pulled off face, with proper L ear partially exposed ( somewhat elongated at the lobe). Eyes brown with glints of light on top; eyebrowns dark grey; lightly tinted red lips and cheeks. There is shading along the proper R side of face and neck (skin tones mixed with grey), also shadowing under nose (proper R nostrill, phrenum area to mounth), and dark line on proper R eyelid extends beyond lid, like eyeliner. The background is plain, painted dark brown, darker at the top, perhaps not intentional but due to paint separating from glass. Brushstrokes are less evident on face. Frame: 2 3/8" wide, wood cove molding with gold painted liner. Frame is made with front and back sections - the wood on the back is less expensive, lap joints connect the side members. The top and bottom are joined by nails through the bottom.152438324William Matthew PriorPaintingsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.http://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/termMaster8824BaltimoreEast BostonBaltimoreEast BostonUnited StatesUnited StatesMarylandMassachusettsPaintingsAmerican Folk Art MuseumBaltimoreEast BostonPrior was known to have copied a Stuart portrait of George Washington in 1850. He probably used that one as the prototype, to produce many of these patriotic portraits of Washington. The image of Martha is apparently not as common. Her picture seems to have been carefully painted, it is the background and costume that are deteriorating and perhaps the work was completed by several people of varying talents and craftsmanship.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 Anathaeum. 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.http://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 2 Prior was known to have copied a Stuart portrait of George Washington in 1850. He probably used that one as the prototype, to produce many of these patriotic portraits of Washington. The image of Martha is apparently not as common. Her picture seems to have been carefully painted, it is the background and costume that are deteriorating and perhaps the work was completed by several people of varying talents and craftsmanship.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 Anathaeum. 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.