An oil on canvas portrait signed Wm. B. Cox lower right and dated 1869. William B. Cox was a captain in the Civil War and an artist who was best known for his portraits of Civil War generals (see lot 73 this auction), battle scenes and subjects such as this young girl. Cox was active around Sedalia, Sweet Springs, Miami and other Missouri towns. According to historian and former Central Methodist Fayette, Cox's paintings, "hang in major museums and are often reproduced." "According to Jones, Cox, who died in 1882, was a captain in the Missouri Militia and at one time a Civil War prisoner. After a prisoner exchange he didn't return to action, but instead painted battle flags for the forces. By 1871, he was back in Missouri and became an "itinerant painter who literally goes from town to town or fair to fair looking for commissions." He was active all around the area including Boonville, Brunswick, Trenton and Glasgow." This work comes from the living estate of a memeber of the Ashby family and the artist's materials were supplied by Pettes & Leath, St. Louis. Central Methodist University in Fayette, Missouri is home to the Ashby-Hodge Gallery of American Art. This painting measures 27.5 x 22 inches with an overall frame measurement of 40 x 34.5 inches.

Very good original condition noting rubs to the surface lower left, original dry surface, there is no damage or repair.