“FIRST IN WAR, FIRST IN PEACE AND FIRST IN THE HEARTS OF HIS COUNTRYMEN”

(WASHINGTON, George) (PRIOR, William M., attributed to). Portrait of Washington. No place: mid-19th century. Oil portrait on board, oval, image measures approximately 19 by 23 inches. Handsomely framed, entire piece measures 28 by 32 inches. $6000.

Handsome large oil on board bust portrait of George Washington, painted by renowned folk artist William Matthew Prior after the classic Gilbert Stuart portrait.

William Matthew Prior (1806-73) was a Boston-based folk artist well-known for his portraits of famous people as well as families and children. About 1500 portraits are attributed to Prior, and his works can be found in many museums and institutions including the Harvard Art Museums, Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery of Art. This bust-length portrait, modeled on the Lansdowne portrait by Gilbert Stuart (which served as the basis for the image on the one dollar bill), depicts Washington in a black suit with a white collar and ruff. Contemporary pencil inscription on verso of board, "Painter Wm. M. Prior, $1.95."

Some very minor spotting, near-fine. A large and very handsome framed portrait.