William Matthew Prior (1806-1873) was an itinerant artist who first earned his living by traveling throughout New England painting portraits. In 1840, he established a studio in Boston with his brother-in-law Sturtevant Hamblin. Together, they produced portraits in direct competition with the emerging daguerreotype. Known as the Prior-Hamblin school, works from this studio are prized for their consistent style and quality.

Condition: Excellent. Oil on board with no evidence of prior conservation.

Produced at the Prior-Hamblin studio in Boston. Recently acquired in Massachusetts.

Dimensions: 12" x 14 1/2" (frame).

6,800

Striking watercolor of raspberries created with stencil and freehand painting. New England, c. 1840-1860.

Mounted in a silver gilt frame of the same period.

Dimensions: 8 1/4" x 11" (frame).

725

Attributed to Joseph Hidley, this naive landscape depicts a serene view of a river. The salmon luminous sky, pair of figures in the center, house, bystander all contribute to the attribution.

According to Warren Broderick, a Rensselaer County, NY historian, author and expert on Joseph Hidley: "It's a Hidley. An early one (1850s). It's one of his pastoral landscapes that was probably meant to depict an imaginary American landscape, seeing that it has no castles or chalets in it as a European scene of his would have."

Dimensions: 18"x24"(painting).

SOLD

From the Hudson River School Naive tradition, this river scene depicts the Old Croton Aqueduct High Bridge, ca 1850, shortly after completion. The famous bridge, 114 ft tall, spans the Harlem River in New York City. The original bridge consisted of fifteen stone arches. The center portion was replaced by steel in 1927 and is still in use today. From a Rockport, Maine home.

Excellent condition with minimal craquelature, stable surface and good varnish. Recent relining, cleaning and inpainting.

Dimensions: 24"h x 30"w (painting).

1,700