William Sanford Mason Biography

William Sanford Mason was born in Providence, Rhode Island in 1824 after his father, Sanford Mason, moved there to establish himself as a portrait painter. William spent most of his career in Pennsylvania—in Philadelphia and Lancaster County—and his prominence there was reflected in the 1855 commission he received from the residents of Columbia to immortalize their town. Mason was known for figural work inspired by ancient and contemporary literature, as well as historical portraits and genre scenes.

Mason’s works can be found in the following prestigious collections: Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, Boston, MA; and the Yale University Art Gallery, New Haven, CT.