Abraham Lincoln1860–187323 1/2 x 17 1/4 "
Frame: 30 1/8 x 1 3/4 "Reverse painting in oil on glassEva and Morris Feld Folk Art Acquisition Fund1985.18.10Bust length portrait of Abraham Lincoln executed in the reverse painting on glass technique; Lincoln's body turned 3/4 (P) left, head towards (P) right. He is wearing a black coat with buttons and lapels, white shirt with stiff white colar and black cravat. Heavy shading along cheeks, jawline nd above upper lip; figure set against matte, light brown background. Handling of face and body very painterly with brushwork evident. Built-up scallopped wood frame with mitered corners, nail construction painted dark brown with gold liner. Masking tape around entire outside edge of frame. Backed with old board.1521925William Matthew PriorPaintingsThe American Folk Art Museum believes this work to be in the public domain.in pencil verso lower: 'Wm. M. Prior / 36 Trenton St / East Boston / Mass'http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824East BostonEast BostonUnited StatesMassachusettsPaintingsEast BostonThere are at least nineteen known reverse paintings on glass of Abraham Lincoln. All of the versions are based upon the photograph of the painting taken by Anthony Berger at Mathew Brady's Washington, D.C., studio on Tuesday, February 9, 1864. The large number of extant glass portraits of Lincoln and other luminaries suggests that many more of these paintings were painted than have probably survived due to their fragility. In three of the Lincoln portraits the president is facing right, which incorrectly places his signature mole on the wrong side of his face.
This example is attributed to William Matthew Prior, who painted more than one hundred surviving reverse paintings on glass of celebrated American heroes including George and Martha Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Daniel Webster.
Lee Kogan, "Abraham Lincoln," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012–2013.portraitPrior was known to have used paintings and prints as the source for many of his paintings of famous people. Images of Lincoln were always popular, and especially after his assassination in 1865. Prior based his Lincoln paintings on a photograph of Lincoln taken by Anthony Berger during the Feb. 9, 1864 session in which Brady shot his famous portrait in the "Brady Chair." A chromolithograph by Elijah C. Middleton printed in Dec., 1865 seems to have influenced Prior's painting, as well. A comparison of the photo and the print reveals that in the photo, Lincoln's tie is crossed with areas of white showing through. The Prior painting more closely resembles the print in this respect.http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster8824http://nodes.emuseum.com/BU1BGBAG/apis/emuseum/network/v1/vocabularies/termMaster882418601873 1985 18 1 There are at least nineteen known reverse paintings on glass of Abraham Lincoln. All of the versions are based upon the photograph of the painting taken by Anthony Berger at Mathew Brady's Washington, D.C., studio on Tuesday, February 9, 1864. The large number of extant glass portraits of Lincoln and other luminaries suggests that many more of these paintings were painted than have probably survived due to their fragility. In three of the Lincoln portraits the president is facing right, which incorrectly places his signature mole on the wrong side of his face.
This example is attributed to William Matthew Prior, who painted more than one hundred surviving reverse paintings on glass of celebrated American heroes including George and Martha Washington, Abraham Lincoln, Andrew Jackson, and Daniel Webster.
Lee Kogan, "Abraham Lincoln," exhibition label for FOILED: Tinsel Painting in America. Lee Kogan, curator. New York: American Folk Art Museum, 2012–2013.portraitPrior was known to have used paintings and prints as the source for many of his paintings of famous people. Images of Lincoln were always popular, and especially after his assassination in 1865. Prior based his Lincoln paintings on a photograph of Lincoln taken by Anthony Berger during the Feb. 9, 1864 session in which Brady shot his famous portrait in the "Brady Chair." A chromolithograph by Elijah C. Middleton printed in Dec., 1865 seems to have influenced Prior's painting, as well. A comparison of the photo and the print reveals that in the photo, Lincoln's tie is crossed with areas of white showing through. The Prior painting more closely resembles the print in this respect.