OOB - `Simeon Skillings, Jr., 1836` by William Matthew Prior (MA, 1806-1873), signed and dated on

OOB - `Simeon Skillings, Jr., 1836` by William Matthew Prior (MA, 1806-1873), signed and dated on back `Painted for M. Skillings by Will. Prior, 1836, Portland, Me.`, with conservation tag of Nancy Lee Snow of Falmouth, Me, indicating only a light cleaning with minor retouch; in period silver leaf cove form frame, SS: 17 1/2" x 24", OS: 29 1/2" x 23". Simeon Skillings (Jr) of Cape Elizabeth, Maine, (1787-1865), was a well known raconteur, athlete and farmer who ultimately came to own most of Bangs Island in Casco Bay off Portland, famously rowed across to Peaks Island daily for several years at about the time of this portrait to obtain an education at the children`s school (he had twelve children himself). Prior really caught the engaging personality of his subject, including direct look, tousled hair, ruddy complexion and gold earring.