Thomas Badger painted portraits for almost 60 years. Working in Boston as early as 1815, he traveled to Maine beginning around 1825 and painted many of the state’s prominent citizens. One such family was Cony. Judge Daniel Cony was an early supporter of institutional education and particularly the education of women, and in 1815 he established and endowed the Cony Female Academy in Augusta Maine. The painting depicted here is by Badger and portrays Abigail, one of Judge Cony’s four daughters. It was likely painted shortly after 1825 and is a marvelous example of Badger’s earlier work.

For another example, take a look at the portrait of Sarah Lord of Kennebunk. Painted in 1833, it is now on display at the Brick Store Museum along with husband William and numerous other of Badger’s early Maine portraits.

A portrait of Judge Cony painted by Gilbert Stuart hangs in the Minneapolis Institute of Arts.