Artist

Mary Ann Willson

The Prodigal Son Taking Leave of His Father
The Prodigal Son Wasted His Substance
The Prodigal Son in Misery
The Prodigal Son Reclaimed

American, 1800–1900

Mary Ann Willson was an American Outsider Art artist. 5 works are cataloged here, principally at National Gallery of Art.

Mary Ann Willson (active 1810 to 1825) was an American folk artist whose work remained undiscovered for over a century, until it appeared in an exhibition of American Primitive paintings in 1944. Little is known of her life, but evidence suggests that she may have been one of the first American watercolorists.

Works by Mary Ann Willson

Collections represented

Catalog records compiled from museum open-access collections; the artworks shown are in the public domain. Spotted an error in this record? Tell us.