Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1857-03-07

The following brief history of the distinguish
rd Artist, Mr.. o. A. BULLARD is taken from the
American Biographical Sketch Book, and from
other authentic sources. The Sketch Book con
tainS the lives of l2S distinguished living, self
educated men, and in il Mr.. Billiard Is properly
assigned conspicuous place. as being one of
the noble few In our countrr, who have by their
own excrtions, been elevated from adversely TO
high and honorable rcnown. The browning
work Of Art by Mr.. b., and the one which above
all Others is now winning for him wide and
enviabe fame, is his Panorama oil New York
city. Paintii OF rare truthfulness ard pertec-
ton. which cost him four years inccssant toll,
and was attended with an expense OF over
s.1,0OO.
o. A. BULLARD
Was born nj Howard. Stcnbcn Co.. " Y, on the
I'll of February, 1916. His parents came from
Massachusetts, and were among the earliest
settlers OF Steubcn county. His father was a
farmer of good rcpute. When the latter died
the subject of this sketch was fourteen years of
age, and he was apprcnticed to The business of
wagon making and sign painting; those branch
es being frequently united, in many Of our
villages. His love for the fine arts was first
awakened by the arrival of a portrait painter in
that place. lager to obtain some knowledge of
the art, he eX rted himself to the utmost TO raise
the ways and means, and applied for instruction;
but TIE artist refused TO disclose any OF his pro-
fessional secrets AT that period he was eighteen
years of age, and the productions of this painter
were the first oil paintings he had ever seen
Ever afterwards his mind was fixed upon paint
ing. aud although the way did not then appear
an artist he was determined to become. With
This view he desired to leave his trade for the
purpose of obtaining instructions in some of the
distant cities; but at the earnest entreatics of
hi mother, who could not bear the idea of part
ing with him, he remained. All his spending
money was laid out in books but he searched
in vain for any that gave information on
painting
At this juncture, friend of his, a young ply.
stefan, patiently waiting, like many others, tor
gray hairs, to entitle him TO confidence, agreed
10 sit for his likeness" lie was in his glo,,,
as, with painters pencil, odds and ends Of
brushes, and the premises all to himself and his
subject" he commenced his first portrait 1t
was, we presume, with some such feeling as that
Of an orator making his debut, or general
about 10 fight his first battle. The portrait was
declared to be excellent, and, to his qualification
1t was pronounced greatly superior TO those
painted by the professional artist All the peo.
pie declared that 1t was like life ITSELF and in
truth there was no fear Of his falling into the
difficulty of II certain artist, who having painted
horse, thought it necessary for the informa
ton of persons not judges Of the fine arts TO in
scribe underneath the animal, This is n Horse
When Of age, Mr. Billiard visited Massachu.
sets and Connecticut, where he found friends
who gave him the requisite instructions lie
then commenced business as a portrait painter,
At Hartford, where he met with good success
During several subsequent years, he painted por-
traits in Massachusetts and in the western mart
Of the State of New York.
In 1871 he married the eldest daughter OF A
A. OlnsIead Esq, and since the winter of 1919,
he has made New York city his permanent place
Of residence ..-.
There probably Is no Artist now living, of Mr..
Billiards. age, that has labored harder or applied
himself more closely TO his profession, for the
last fifteen years He has Illustrated a Gict that
has been illustrated by great many individuals
w that God gives nothing TO mortals without
La I. ,,.f
fl'' 'e is IN doubt OF ue fact tlnt 1t IS III. dur,
" a. ry mtp,r lnCre esQeeaNY Of every voaa
piah 90 hnl nni what r,.'dc or rroise non 60,
M q h'ai to. and u,rN cg ascuWa.ului