$30,550
Attributed to William Matthew Prior (Maine, Baltimore, and Boston, 1806-1873) Portrait of Albert Coman Smith with His Toys, Boston, c. 1857. Unsigned, an inscription on the reverse reads" Albert Coman Smith born 1855 died 1858." Oil on canvas, the almost full length portrait of a child in a white dress accented at the upper arms with brilliant red and light blue at the neck and waist holding a red covered handled tin pail in one hand and a red, white, and blue rattle with stars in the other, seated below red velvet draperies with lighter red tassels and surrounded by decoratively painted spandrels on an olive green ground accented by gold and black and highlighted by red, 26 3/4 x 21 3/4 in. Condition: Good, unlined, minor touch up, revarnished. Note: This lot illustrates the flat portraits William Matthew Prior advertised that he could accomplish in a one-hour sitting. The thickly applied paint indicates a rapid execution to compete with the price of a daguerreotype. However, the child's large face and short rounded arms together with the bright colors of dress and toys made these portraits desirable then and now.
Auctioneer:
Skinner
Date:
2003-06-08
