- William Matthew Prior (American, 1806-1873)
Portrait of Capt. Thomas W. Lewis, Owner and Master of the Bark
Silver Cloud, c. 1840. Unsigned. Oil on artist board, depicting the
bearded man holding a book, with a coastal view with sailing vessels at
sunset, in the background, 27 x 22 in., in a later molded wood frame.
Condition: Very good, minor specks of paint loss l.l. and l.r.
Provenance: By family descent of the sitter. A note on the backboard
is inscribed “Capt. Thomas W. Lewis/Owner and Skipper of Silver
Cloud/Joined Masonic Order at Cape of Good Hope./Father of Sarah E.
Lewis-Who was wife of George B. Lawton, parents of Edna B. and Ida
M. Lawton. Aunt Edna died 2-6-77.”
$4,000-6,000
601.
American School, 19th CenturyPortrait of the Bark Silver Cloud. Capt. Thos. W. Lewis, Master.
Unsigned, vessel identified on bow, stern, pennant, and inscription
below. Oil on canvas, 25 x 30 in., in a period molded wood frame with
gilt liner. Condition: Very good, surface grime, stable craquelure.Provenance: By family descent of Captain Thomas W. Lewis.Note: According to information collected at the Mystic Marine Museum
and Bath Maritime Museum by a descendant of the consignor, the
bark Silver Cloud was built in 1853 by General Joseph Barry at
George Town, in Bath, Maine. She weighed 460 ton and was built of
oak and hackmatack with a copper bottom. She was sold c. 1857
to E. Boynton, with Thomas W. Lewis serving as master, and who
subsequently became the owner.
$6,000-8,000122 additional information and photos at http://www.skinnerinc.com
602