Student Artwork Guide
Copyright This work is in the public domain. William Matthew Prior died in 1873; copyright lasts 70 years after the artist’s death, so it ended in 1943.
In context
Master Cleeves — William Matthew Prior
The original measures 57 × 46 cm (height × width), drawn here beside an adult of average height.
Row above: the years. Row below: how old the artist was at the start and at the end of each span — 0 at birth, 67 at death.
Painted when the artist was 44. The artist lived to 67. 3 of the 8 dated works by this artist in our catalogue came earlier.
Shaded: the lifetime of William Matthew Prior (1806–1873) ▲ this work, 1850 every dated painting, decade by decade
First works: up to 1845 Main working years: 1845–1854 Late works: from 1854
Those three bands split the works this catalogue has a date for into a first quarter, a middle half and a last quarter. They are not the artist’s complete output: a thin stretch may be a gap in the record rather than a quiet spell. The same years with the artist’s life laid along them
Pick one work above: name two things it shares with this one, and one thing that's different.
More works to set beside this one: wahooart.com/en/art/similar/william-matthew-prior-master-cleeves-D38KEG-en/
Measured from the image
Main colour
Phthalo Green #261e1b
Catalogued palette
These colours inside the artist’s whole palette Find other paintings by colour
The ten leading countries
Find the three darkest countries on the map. Is the museum that keeps this painting in any of them? Write down one reason people far away might look at it.
Together these works take 100.0% of all the attention this artist's paintings received over the last twelve months. The catalogue holds 11 works by this artist, of which 4 were looked at at least once. This painting has not been looked at yet in that time — it closes the list without a rank. The same counts, month by month
Bars measure attention, not quality. Pick the work at the top and this one: name one thing that might make a painting famous beyond how well it is painted.
Artist and museum
Born in Bath, United Kingdom
William Matthew Prior was born on May 16, 1806, in Bath, Maine, to Captain William Prior, a shipmaster, and Sarah Bryant Prior. He demonstrated an early aptitude for art, beginning his artistic journey with training under Charles Codman, a fellow Maine-based painter, completing his first portrait in 1823 at the age of seventeen.
In 1840, Prior relocated to East Boston, Massachusetts, with his in-laws, including Sturtevant J. Hamblin, another painter. This move aimed to invigorate his career. The paintings produced by both Prior and Hamblin, when unsigned, are remarkably similar in style – so much so that they are often attributed to the “Prior/Hamblin School.” According to the 1852 Boston directory, Prior resided at 36 Trenton Street in East Boston.
Prior’s work is characterized by its vibrant portraits, particularly those of families and children. He was a skilled portraitist who captured the likenesses and personalities of his subjects with a distinctive folk art sensibility. His paintings often depict individuals in their everyday attire and settings, providing valuable insights into 19th-century American life.
Portraiture: The core of Prior’s oeuvre lies in portrait painting.
Folk Art Style: His work embodies the characteristics of folk art – simplicity, directness, and a focus on representing everyday life.
Family & Children: A recurring theme is the depiction of families and children, reflecting the importance placed on these social units during the period.
Beyond his artistic pursuits, Prior was a devout follower of William Miller, a preacher who prophesied the imminent end of the world. This religious conviction deeply influenced his life and work. He authored two books detailing Miller’s teachings: The King's Vesture (1862) and The Empyrean Canopy (1868).
William Matthew Prior passed away on January 21, 1873, and was interred at Woodlawn Cemetery in Everett, Massachusetts. Approximately 1,500 portraits are attributed to him. His works are now held in prestigious institutions such as the Harvard Art Museums, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, and the National Gallery of Art.
Prior’s artistic significance was further highlighted by the exhibition Artist and Visionary: William Matthew Prior Revealed, shown at the Fenimore Art Museum (Cooperstown, New York) in 2012-2013 and subsequently at the American Folk Art Museum in New York City. This exhibition brought renewed attention to his unique contribution to American art.
George Washington, c. 1860
Mrs. Nancy Lawson, 1843
Portrait of a young boy with flounced collar and brown suit holding a bow and arrow
Girl in Pink
Boy in Blue
wahooart.com/en/art/download/william-matthew-prior-master-cleeves-D38KEG-en/
Look closely
Master Cleeves — William Matthew Prior
Answer in your own words. There are no wrong answers here — only answers you can explain.
Write a short paragraph about this artwork. Use the facts from the earlier parts of this guide, and your answers above.
"Master Cleeves" by William Matthew Prior is a portrait composition measuring 57 x 46 cm in the original.
In "Master Cleeves", a statement contrast is paired with a strong color unity harmony.
"Master Cleeves" measures 57 x 46 cm in its original form. Original dimensions are a useful reference when choosing a reproduction size.