Portrait of a Gentleman
Artist
William Matthew Prior
(American, 1806 - 1873)
CultureAmerican
Dateca. 1830s
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsOverall: 26 1/2 x 22 1/2 in. (67.3 x 57.2 cm)
Credit LineGift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr.
Object number71.757
On View
Not on viewLabel TextWilliam Matthew Prior American, 1806–1873 Portrait of a Gentleman, ca. 1830s Oil on canvas The awkward anatomy and scant detail in this painting may suggest that William Matthew Prior lacked skill as a portraitist. This deliberate simplicity, however, was crucial to his business model. Working first in Maine and later in Boston, Prior created more than 1,500 works, priced between $1 and $25, adjusting his effort and time (often only one hour) according to the client’s means. Prior advertised: “Persons wishing for a flat picture can have a likeness without shade or shadow at one-quarter price.” Gift of Walter P. Chrysler, Jr. 71.757 Exhibition History"Three Hundred Years of American Art in the Chrysler Museum," Chrysler Museum at Norfolk, Va., March 1 - July 4, 1976. "Democratic Designs: American Folk Paintings from the Chrysler Museum," Willoughby-Baylor House, Norfolk, VA, August 16, 2014 - April 5, 2015.
