John F. Francis (August 13, 1808 – November 15, 1886) was an American painter, primarily of still lifes.
Smithsonian American Art Museum Luncheon Still Life (c.1860) by John F. Francis (private collection)
Biographyedit
Francis was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Predominantly self-taught as an artist, he worked until 1845 as a portrait painter in central and eastern Pennsylvania. Francis's portraits reveal his early fascination with minute detail. In 1845 Francis began exhibiting his works at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Art Union; both museums promoted American artists by awarding paintings to subscribers using lottery-like drawings. It was in this period that he began to concentrate on still lifes, which had been established as a popular genre in Philadelphia by Raphaelle Peale and other painters.
His first known still life is dated 1850, and by 1854 he had ceased to paint anything else. Francis became known as a leading painter of luncheon and dessert still lifes,[1] developing an intricate vocabulary of forms required by his specialized subject. William H. Gerdts writes, "Of all the mid-century still-life specialists, Francis was the most painterly. There is often a freshness and a brio to his paint application that successfully balance his sure delineation of form and his establishment of texture."[2]
Nearly all of his paintings depict fruits and desserts.[3] He painted many replicas of his works, with his style displaying little change over the course of his career.[1] According to art historian Alfred Frankenstein, "his blond, high-keyed palette always provides one of the most distinctive accents in a general exhibition of American still life".[3] Few of his paintings can be dated after 1872, and none after 1880.[1] He was for the most part forgotten by the time of his death in Jeffersonville, West Norriton, in 1886.
In 2013 a pair of his still lifes was appraised at $100,000.[4]
Referencesedit
Citations
^ abc. butlerart.com. Archived from the original on 2009-01-21. Retrieved 2009-02-01.
^"Antiques Roadshow -- Season 17". Retrieved 2014-09-08.
Bibliography
Frankenstein, Alfred (1970). The Reality of Appearance. New York Graphic Society. ISBN0-8212-0357-6.
Gerdts, William H. (1981). Painters of the humble truth: masterpieces of American still life, 1801-1939. University of Missouri Press. ISBN978-0-8262-0355-7.
External linksedit
Wikimedia Commons has media related to John F. Francis.
American paintings & historical prints from the Middendorf collection, an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art (fully available online as PDF), which contains material on Francis (no. 20)
January 01, 1970
john, francis, august, 1808, november, 1886, american, painter, primarily, still, lifes, smithsonian, american, museumluncheon, still, life, 1860, private, collection, biography, editfrancis, born, philadelphia, pennsylvania, predominantly, self, taught, artis. John F Francis August 13 1808 November 15 1886 was an American painter primarily of still lifes Smithsonian American Art MuseumLuncheon Still Life c 1860 by John F Francis private collection Biography editFrancis was born in Philadelphia Pennsylvania Predominantly self taught as an artist he worked until 1845 as a portrait painter in central and eastern Pennsylvania Francis s portraits reveal his early fascination with minute detail In 1845 Francis began exhibiting his works at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and the Philadelphia Art Union both museums promoted American artists by awarding paintings to subscribers using lottery like drawings It was in this period that he began to concentrate on still lifes which had been established as a popular genre in Philadelphia by Raphaelle Peale and other painters His first known still life is dated 1850 and by 1854 he had ceased to paint anything else Francis became known as a leading painter of luncheon and dessert still lifes 1 developing an intricate vocabulary of forms required by his specialized subject William H Gerdts writes Of all the mid century still life specialists Francis was the most painterly There is often a freshness and a brio to his paint application that successfully balance his sure delineation of form and his establishment of texture 2 Nearly all of his paintings depict fruits and desserts 3 He painted many replicas of his works with his style displaying little change over the course of his career 1 According to art historian Alfred Frankenstein his blond high keyed palette always provides one of the most distinctive accents in a general exhibition of American still life 3 Few of his paintings can be dated after 1872 and none after 1880 1 He was for the most part forgotten by the time of his death in Jeffersonville West Norriton in 1886 In 2013 a pair of his still lifes was appraised at 100 000 4 References editCitations a b c John F Francis 1808 1886 butlerart com Archived from the original on 2009 01 21 Retrieved 2009 02 01 Gerdts 1981 p 92 a b Frankenstein 1970 p 42 Antiques Roadshow Season 17 Retrieved 2014 09 08 Bibliography Frankenstein Alfred 1970 The Reality of Appearance New York Graphic Society ISBN 0 8212 0357 6 Gerdts William H 1981 Painters of the humble truth masterpieces of American still life 1801 1939 University of Missouri Press ISBN 978 0 8262 0355 7 External links edit nbsp Wikimedia Commons has media related to John F Francis American paintings amp historical prints from the Middendorf collection an exhibition catalog from The Metropolitan Museum of Art fully available online as PDF which contains material on Francis no 20 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John F Francis amp oldid 1202360856, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
