Boy with Toy Horse and Wagon c. 1845

William Matthew Prior’s “Boy with Toy Horse and Wagon”, painted circa 1845, is a charming portrait of a young boy in a black polka dot dress. The boy, holding a whip and leading a toy horse and wagon, provides a glimpse into the childhood of the mid-19th century. Prior's meticulous attention to detail in the boy's clothing and the toy highlights the artist’s focus on realism and the everyday world. The painting is a prime example of 19th-century American portraiture with its focus on capturing the sitter’s personality and a sense of innocence.