George Washington’s Tomb at Mount Vernon
Label Text
New England artist William Matthew Prior painted this distinctive view of Mount Vernon, one of a group of at least thirteen, in the mid-nineteenth century. Now generally considered a folk artist, Prior structured the sale of his paintings based on their degree of finish. Prior based his Mount Vernon views on a widely-published engraving after W.H. Brooke featuring the new tomb, old tomb and mansion. Each of the Mount Vernon views in the MVLA collection is different, showing the view in different seasons as well as times of day. In this painting, a version of Prior’s most Mount Vernon well-known scene (a day view during spring or summer), the lack of detail suggests it was priced lower than some of the other canvases.
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Datec. 1853
Artist
William Matthew Prior
(American, 1806 - 1873)
Geography
Made -
United States
Medium/TechniqueOil on canvas; wood
DimensionsOverall (H x W x D): 23 in. × 29 in. × 2 in. (58.42 cm × 73.66 cm × 5.08 cm)
Other (H x W): 18 5/8 in. × 24 1/4 in. (47.31 cm × 61.6 cm)
Credit LinePurchased by the A. Alfred Taubman Acquisition Endowment Fund, 1998
Object numberM-3964
DescriptionHorizontal landscape view of Mount Vernon in spring or summer, with the new tomb in the left foreground, and the mansion, colonnade, and kitchen above on a hill in the left background. The “summer house” pavilion is in the center, with the old tomb below and just to the right of it. A large tree appears in the right foreground, and the Potomac River and Maryland shore appear behind it at right. The palette is unusually lurid. In the river is a large area of mustard yellow, gold, and orange, perhaps intended as a sunset reflection. Just to the left on shore is a tree with golden leaves. Orange and peach highlights appear on bushes throughout. The new tomb is a vivid red-orange color with irregularly spaced black lines to suggest bricks. The sky behind is very bright blue, with salmon pink in the clouds, and the mountains appear purple with pink accents. It is framed in a reproduction brown wood frame.
Published ReferencesJacquelyn Oak and Gwendolyn Dubois Shaw, Artist and Visionary: William Matthew Prior Revealed (Cooperstown, New York: Fenimore Art Museum, 2012), 27-29. (General Reference)
Beatrix Rumford, American Folk Portraits: Paintings and Drawings from the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Center (Boston: New York Graphic Society, 1981), 176-182. (General Reference)
Robert Bishop, Folk Painters of America, (New York: E.P. Dutton, 1979), 35, 40, 42. (General Reference)
Patricia Johnston,"William Matthew Prior, Itinerant Portrait Painter." Early American Life (June 1979): 20-23, 66. (General Reference)
Jean Lipman and Alice Winchester, Folk Painters of America (New York: Dodd Mean and Company, 1950), 80-89. (General Reference)
Nina Fletcher Little, "William M. Prior, Traveling Artist, and his In-Laws, the Painting Hamblens." Antiques 53 (January 1948): 44-48. (General Reference)
Grace Adams Lyman, "William M. Prior, “The Painting Garrett Artist”, Antiques 26 (November 1934): 180. (General Reference)
Markings1.) NOTE: There is an indication on the Christie’s condition report that there are remnants of Prior’s stamp still visible under the wax lining. (Not seen.)
Mount Vernon's object research is ongoing and information about this object is subject to change. For information on image use and reproductions, click here.
c. 1867-1899
1857/1859
![View of the North [Hudson}] River (Evening)
Artist: William Winstanley
Oil on canvas
c. 179 ...](/internal/media/dispatcher/15739/thumbnail)
1844-1850
c. 1839
1800-1830
