Up until the mid-19th century, the demand for portraiture was strong enough to support legions of regional artists whose identities have not survived. Found on Maryland’s Eastern Shore, this anonymous portrait by an unknown artist may or may not depict a Baltimore sitter. The stretcher is inscribed “Mr. W. Smith/Saratoga St/West at/Schroeder St.” Perhaps the picture was painted in Baltimore; perhaps it belonged to somebody living here. The 1831 Baltimore City Directory does include the name William Smith at a Saratoga Street address. He made his living as a drayman, hauling goods on a horsedrawn dray (wagon) in the bustling port city.