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William Matthew Prior was a fanatic follower of Miller. It is likely that Prior witnessed Miller preach in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts during 1840. Because of Prior's life-long devotion to Miller's teachings, it is highly probable he would have painted Miller's likeness at least once. This portrait, which includes Miller's death date on the cover of the book, matches descriptions and other portraits of the prophet.
Exhibition History“Artist and Visionary: William Matthew Prior Revealed,” American Folk Art Museum, New York, New York, January 24, 2013 – May 27, 2013; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, May 26, 2012 – December 31, 2012.
BibliographyNina Fletcher Little, "William M. Prior, Traveling Artist, And His In-Laws, the Painting Hamblens," Antiques LII (January 1948), illus. as fig. 5 on p. 46.
Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown, NYSHA, 1987, pp. 139-141, illus. as no. 84 on p. 141.
Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser, "American Paintings Before 1945 in the Wadsworth Athenaeum", Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1997, Vol. 2., pp. 616-618.
Attributed to
William Matthew Prior
(1806 - 1873)
William Miller (Possibly)
Datec. 1849
MediumOil on canvas
DimensionsSight: 26 × 21 5/8 in. (66 × 54.9 cm)
Object numberN0033.1960
Credit LineCollection of the Fenimore Art Museum. Museum Purchase
Photograph by Richard Walker
Label TextWilliam Matthew Prior created William Miller's dramatic presence by the use of heavy shading in Miller's face and stark lighting on the sitter and the background. Miller (1782-1849) was the founder of the Adventist religious movement. He predicted that the Second Coming of Christ and the subsequent end of the world would occur between March 21, 1843 and March 21, 1844. William Matthew Prior was a fanatic follower of Miller. It is likely that Prior witnessed Miller preach in Portland, Maine and Boston, Massachusetts during 1840. Because of Prior's life-long devotion to Miller's teachings, it is highly probable he would have painted Miller's likeness at least once. This portrait, which includes Miller's death date on the cover of the book, matches descriptions and other portraits of the prophet.
Exhibition History“Artist and Visionary: William Matthew Prior Revealed,” American Folk Art Museum, New York, New York, January 24, 2013 – May 27, 2013; Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, NY, May 26, 2012 – December 31, 2012.
BibliographyNina Fletcher Little, "William M. Prior, Traveling Artist, And His In-Laws, the Painting Hamblens," Antiques LII (January 1948), illus. as fig. 5 on p. 46.
Paul S. D'Ambrosio and Charlotte M. Emans, "Folk Art's Many Faces: Portraits in the New York State Historical Association," Cooperstown, NYSHA, 1987, pp. 139-141, illus. as no. 84 on p. 141.
Elizabeth Mankin Kornhauser, "American Paintings Before 1945 in the Wadsworth Athenaeum", Yale University Press, New Haven & London, 1997, Vol. 2., pp. 616-618.
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