Worcester daily spy. [volume] (Worcester [Mass.]) 1850-1888, 1858-10-02

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The following brief history OF the distinguished
| Artist Mr. o. A. BULLARD, is taken from the Amer
roan Biographical Sketch Book, and from other au-
thentc sources The sketch Book contains the lives
| Of 12S distinguished living, sefeducated men, and
In it MIR. Billiard is properly assigned conspicuous
place. as being of the noble few, in country,
who have by their own eXerons, been elevated from
| adversely to a high and honorable renown. The
browning work of Art by Mr.. B., and the one which
above all others is winning for him wide and
enviabe fame, is his Panorama of New York city
spainting of rare tuthfulness and perfection, which
cost him four years incessant toll and was attended
with an expense Of over $4,000
0. A. BULLARD,
Was born at Howard, Steubeu County, N Y, on
the 18th Of February, 1916. His parents from
Massachusetts,, and among the earliest settlers
of Steuben County. His father farmer Of
good repute. When the latter died, the subject of
this sketch fourteen years Of age, and lie was
Rpprenticed to the business OF wagon making and
sign painting, those branches being frequently unit
cd, in many Of olr villages. His love for the fine
arts was first awakened, by the arrival of portrait
painter in that place. Eager TO obtain some kuow
edge Of the art, he exerted himself to the utmost to
rsise the ways and means, and applied for nstruc
ten; but the artist refused to disclose any of his
professional secrets At that period he was eighteen
years of age and the productions Of this painter
were the first oil paintings he had ever SEEM
Ever afterwards his mind fixed upon painting
and although tile way did not then appear an artist
be was determined to become. With this view he
desired to leave hs trade, for the purpose of obtain
ing instructions in some Of the distant cities; but
at the earnest entreates Of his mother, who could
not bear the idea of parting with him, lie remained
All his spending money laid out in books; but
ne searched i'll vain for any that gave information
on painting.
At this juncture q friend of his, Young physi
gian patiently waiting like many Others for gray
hairs to entltle him to confidence agreed " to sit
for his likeness" He in his glory, as with
IL 4. IL
premises all to himself and his d" subject" he com
menCed bis first portrait 1t was presume. with
some such feeling as that of an orator making his
debut a general about to fight his first battle
The portrait was declared to be excellent, and tc
bis qualification it pronounced greatly superior
to those painted by the professional artist. All the
people declared that it was like life itself; and il
truth there was fear of his falling into the diff
Guilty OF certain artist who having painted borse
thought IT necessary, tor the Information Of persons
not judges of the fine arts TO inscribe underneath
the animal " This is Horse
When of age, Mr.. Billiard visited Massachusetts
and Connecticut where he found friends who gave
him the requisite instructions. lie then commenced
business portrait painter at Hartford where he
met with good success During several subsequent
years. he painted portraits in Massachusetts, and in
the western part of the State of New York
In 1871 he married the eldest daughter of A. A.
0mstead, ESQ., and since the winter Of 1843 he has
made New York city his permanent place of resi-
dence
There probably is no Artist now living of Mr.
Billiards. are that has labored harder or apped
himself more closely to his Profession, for the last
fifteen years. He has illustrated fact that has
been illustrated by q great many individuals, viz:
That God gives nothing to mOrtas without labor -
Is labor that produces everything. There is no
doubt Of the fact that it is he duty Of every man.
more especially every young man. to find out
what Trade Profession God intended him for
and then after ascerainiug that fact, to devote
the whole powers o.. his mind TO the accom-
Dlishment OF that object VIZ: to eEcsit in thai
sadie or profession 1t makes no difference vhethe,
man shoe a horse, makes 4 boot anovvs the fore
plain paints picture, or breaches sermon, what
ever he does he should do 1ceu Mr. BuiarG, like
all men who have distinguished themselves, lia
acted upon this principle. Early in life the idez
was strongly impressed upon his MUD that Goo
made him Artist Previous to his settling down
in New York city, to distinguish himself, he had
painted the Portraits Of Eight Eundred different
individuals 1t is the vast amount Of labor thar Mr.
Billiard has performed and that only that has earn
ed for him the reputation he now enjoys Of being
one Of the brightest jewels of the American School
Of Artists. He went to New York with the deter
mnatlon to distinguish himself in his Profession,
and although he was not known to a single indivd
nal In that city, he formed resolution to earn foI
himself in time, reputation that should be world
wide. The word fail was not found in Mr.. Billiards.
Dictionary.
After painting the portraits of ovel one hundred
different individuals, residing in New York city
and vicinity he believed he could do more good by
painting works that should carry a moral with them
The most of his works have been those that illus
trated the manners and customs Of American Life
and History. His first great Painting, was " The
Last Banket.S All who are familiar with Amer
can History will reeollect that, during the Revolu
ton, when army suffering for clothing and
food, at Valley Forge that tax gatherers were sent
by General Washington, to collect of the people
whatever they could give for the support Of the
army. Upon one OCCASION one Of these tax gather
called upon a widow woman who had one babe
that babe was asleep, wrapped in the widows
only blanket, but such was her interest in the
OF American Independence, that she took from her
shoulders her own shawl, wrapped her child in it
and handed her only blanket to the tax gatherer to
carry to the soldiers Of the Revolutionary Army
That scene was the subject of his great picture;
and it was sold to the American Art URion, and was
drawn by Mr.. l. II. Brown, of New GOlk city His
second, and probably his greatest work, was "1he
Daughters Appeal" All have read Of Ethan Allen.
He was brave and generous man, but he
was an infdel. He wrote book on Inidelty. call
ed the Oracles Of Reason The wife o! Ethan Allen
devoted pious lady "a member of the Pres
byteran Church. She had number of daughters
all Of whom believed the Doctrines thlir mother
had taught them with the exception 0: the eldest
This girls mind had been biased by the influence
of her father, and she was inclined % believe the
doctrine of lnfdehy. At the age Of eighteen, she
lay upon her death bed. She sent for her father II
come to her room, and she addressed him in these
words: Father, | must die; | must meet nv God
trines that you have taught me- or shall believe
the doctrines that my mother has taught Inc 2" -
The brave old Soldier that could face cannon's
mouth and not finch hair, when this question was
addressed to him, he hestated, dropped his head
the tears trckled down his cheeks, aud lie said with
emphasis; Daughter, Jeiere he doctrine yom
mother has taught you!" This scene, The Daugh.
ter's Appeal" was the subject Of his second great
Painting it was sold to the Art Unisn and drawn
by Geo. ]. J. Barber, OF Homer N Y. His third
great Painting was " Nathan Hale, just before his
Execution" This was sold to the American Art
Union, and drawn by a western man. Ills fourth
great Painting, was Capt. John Smith and Poca-
hontas" All will recoect the scene - this was
cold to the Art Union.
| Among his other productions are "Iudith In the
ent of Holofernesh Horse Trade" and a. Sam
| Slick"
SUPERIOR CAssIMEREs. 49, We have been
shown, by gentleman wholly disnterested,
some exceedingly handsome fancy cassimeres
| manufactured nj Armorv Nfllaua AF;uk..-.