The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1897-12-19
EARLY NEW YORK ARTISTS.
SOME PAINTERS WHOSE DAT WAS
AT THE CEHTURr'S BESINNING.

Academy or Fine Arts-siudtcr That Were
Seted-paintinss stiI well Remembered.
An early New Yorker who practiced art and
became thoroughly identified with its prog.
rcss in this city was Robert Dunlap. Ho
fourished hero at tho outset Of this century.
and died in 1889. His forte lay in portraits, a
few Of which werc lifelikc, but the majority
mediocre. 1t was In aiding to establish the
American Academy OF Fine Arts, tho preie.
cessor OF tho present National Academy Of De-
sign, TINT he contributed most to the develop.
ment Of art in New York. Much in a similar
limo was Robert Fulton. who. although a NINA.
ture painter, was more effective as an expo
nent of artistic taste among tho Knickerbockers
Of Washington lrving's early days than as Q
practical artist.
Early Manhattan know two Jarvises, uncle
and nephew. who were Knickerbocker portrait
painters. The formers portraits Of the two
Commodores Perry and Of Gen. Brown can be
seen in the City Hall, and those of Egbert
Benson and Robert Morris belong to tho His
torical Society collection. Tho nephew had n
ttudio in Broadway opposite tho City Hall,
where he painted miniatures and with won
dorful knack fashioned silhoucttes. He was
one of New York's original Bohemians. whose
convetsation was moro interesting than his
pictures. The New Workers OF De Witt Gin
toms generation know John Wesley Jarvis az
loving nOtOrleIy anu IhnthStlc SOspumo, anu tb
losing the artist in the boon companion.
At the beginning of the naval war with Eng
land q firm of portrait painters, Waldo & Jew.
Oft, enjoyed n vogue In this city. They wcro
Connecticut boys who came to New York with
orly q few dollars In pocket. Jewett was first
employed by Waldo to grind his paints, and In
time became proficient with palette and brush.
Waldo caught the likenesses and Jewett
painted the accessories Of dress and surround.
ings. The portrait Of Mayor Stephen Allen
in the City Hall was Of their production, SO
was that Of Peter Remsen, q founder Of the
treat Knickerbocker family Of that name, hang
ing In the Historical Society collection. Waldo
worked lfty.three years in this city devotedly
at his profession. and had a picture in the
Academy exhibition of 1861. in which year, as
an Academy Associate, he died, aged 70.
"A score Of portraits painted in his Barclay
street studio by Charles c. Ingham. who came
here from Dublin, hang on the walls of houses
in this city. He was an original member Of
the old Academy Of Fine Arts, which occupied
n building In Barclay street near Broadway,
and was one Of the seceders who founded the
Academy of Design. OF these only Cummings,
Durand and Morse Now Yorkers ally survived
Ingham. His speciality was feminine por-
t~raiture. and through his excessive elaboration
his larger portraits presented all the delicacy
and finish IF the miniature on ivory.
The portrait Of Mayor Philip Hone in the City
Hall was painted by John vanderlyn. who was
brought from his native Experimentation to
this city by Aaron Burr. The latter acoiden.
tally saw q charcoal sketch made BY young
vanderlyn on q barn door and recognized tho
talent in its conception and execution. Van.
derlyn became famous in this city and his
famous picture Of Marius in the ruins Of Car
thage, best known by the Durand engraving.
varatuad tho Salon rnadal ryhen it Vyaa evhihifa1
in Paris in 1908. Vanderlyn had gone to the
French capital at the expense Of Burr to pur-
sue his studies. He was a victim of m-luck,
for this media was three times pawned in his
poverty and as often redeemed by sympathizing
friends, once by the great grandfather Of him
whom New York loved as Larry" Kip. VAN
derlyn painted President jackson and Burr's
Inflated daughter. Theodosia Aston. The lat
ter picture hung in Burr's quaint little Reade
street house-soon to be demolished for part of
the site Of tho new Hall Of Records, and his
friends have seen the old Vice President often
weeping before the painting. SO lifeiike had
vanderlyn made the likeness. Veteran New
Workers will recall the old rotunda which stood
where the old Sessions building now Is. which
was used temporarily as the general Post
Oface after the Wall street structure was
burned In the great fire Of 1885. and next was
used by the Commissioners Of the almshouse for
Offices. Tho Common Council gave Wander
lyn the use of tho ground and he built the ro.
tunda for the purpose Of therein exhibiting
panorama of his own painting. He died in
destitution at his birthplace and lies forgotten
in the wiltwyck Cemetery at Kingston.
Thomas sully, who had the distinction OF
painting q portrait of Queen Victoria The was
born q subject of her grandfather. George ILL.,,
was. after his arrival IN the United States, g
resident of this city for n few ears before going
to Philadelphia, where he died at a very i'd
vanced age. In this city, at the order Of the
corporation, he painted for the Governors
Room in the City Hall, a portrait of Commodore
Decatur. He. like Ingham. delighted in paint
ing female beauty. His portrait of Fanny
Kemble as Juliet was painted for Henry g
Carey, and that Of Mrs. Patton Wood l. as Ansfno
in "Sonnambula, hangs in tho gallery of thu
Philadelphia Academy of Fine Arts. Marshal
o. Roberts, ever the patron Of New York ar
lists, employed him TO paint the Samaritan
woman at the well. sully, while residing II
New York. was much petted by its society ant
especially by the Sedgwick family. He pretty
completely renowned English proclivities, ant
for seventy-three years was an ardent natural
Most visitors in Central Park as they pass TIT
ciatcd with the electric telegraph and forge
t MSsn he i Wss eaeo v I RordfrSSi ew peYia oTR In In t ths e ehiy
sASs kNS
paint the Franco-American hero. Chancellol
Kent also gave him sittings.
Asher Brown Durand was for the decades
between 1920 and 1870 an artistic favorite o
New Workers.. who found 1t difficult TO decide
whether he excelled most as engraver or paint
or in oils. As an engraver, New Workers know
him best, as having transcribed TTumbulTi
picture Of the signing of the Declaration OF In
dependence from canvas to steel plate: and Al
o painter for his portrait Of the poet Bryant ant
his Wrath OF Peter Stuy,vesant." Durand't
landscapes In obs or on steel plate were valued
highly. Two Of his best pictures belong to thu
Lenox collection: The Kembles Of Gold sprini
own one OF his finest tree groups. He was fol
o long time President of the National Acad
envy OF Design.
During the early ffties Walter E. West -four
Is ed here. He had passed q, largo portion o
his life in Europe. where he had had the dis
t~inotion of painting portraits of Lord Byron
Shelley. the Countess Gulcclola. and Fehci'
Aemels; His reeolleetions Of these ,s Helebr .sTS,
Confessional" was ever a%.favorite with Wssh
York Historical Society added the work TO 1t
gallery. 4; II. Delano Of this city purchases
many OF Vests works.
Now Rochelle boasts the nativity Of Rober