Primitive school oil on panel portrait of a sea captain's wife c. 1840

An oil on panel of the primitive school c. 1840 of a seated lady with ship to background. The lady sits holding in a book and the ship of her husband can be seen in the background.  The symbolism of the period of the items held by subjects, or indeed depicted in the background, held a direct corelation to the occupation, or in this case, husband's occupation.

The portrait sits in a period frame.  Alligatoring to the paint throughout. 

To the back is recorded ' The Captain's wife, that sweet sad smile'

Measuring: 23 cm x 31 cm (panel)  28 cm x 36 cm (frame)

Probably American, c. 1840