John George Brown (November 11, 1831 – February 8, 1913) was a British citizen and an Americanpainter who specialized in genre scenes.
John George Brown Self-portrait, 1908Only A Nickel, Joe, 1906. Private collection.The Cider Mill, 1880, Terra Foundation for American Art, Daniel J. Terra CollectionThree for Five, 1890, Birmingham Museum of Art, Birmingham, Alabama
John George Brown was born in Durham, England on November 11, 1831. His parents apprenticed him to the career of glass worker at the age of fourteen in an attempt to dissuade him from pursuing painting.[1] He studied nights at the School of Design in Newcastle-on-Tyne while working as a glass cutter there between 1849 and 1852 and evenings at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh while working at the Holyrood Glass Works between 1852 and 1853.[2] After moving to New York City in 1853, he studied with Thomas Seir Cummings at the National Academy of Design where he was elected a National Academician in 1861. Brown was the Academy's vice-president from 1899 to 1904.[3]
Around 1855, he worked for the owner of the Brooklyn Glass Company as a glassblower, and later married the daughter of his employer. His father-in-law encouraged his artistic abilities, supporting him financially, letting Brown pursue painting full-time.[1] He established a studio in 1860 and, in 1866, he became one of the charter members of the Water-Color Society, of which he was president from 1887 to 1904. Brown became famous for his idealized depictions of street urchins in New York (bootblacks, street musicians, posy sellers, newsboys, etc.).[4]
His Passing Show (Paris, Salon, 1877) and Street Boys at Play (Paris Exhibition, 1900) are good examples of his popular talent. Brown's art is best characterized as British genre paintings adapted to American subjects. Essentially literary, Brown's paintings are executed with precise detail, but poor in color, and more popular with the general public than with connoisseurs. His paintings were quite popular with wealthy collectors. Many of Brown's paintings were reproduced as lithographs and widely distributed with packaged teas. He also painted some landscapes, just for pleasure.
He died at his home in New York City on February 8, 1913.[5]
Quotesedit
Wishing to more faithfully capture his subjects as they appeared in real life, Brown once said, "They will change their dress, as though to show the extent of their wardrobe. Being cautioned expressly on Saturday, and told to return in the same fustian jacket your boy will appear on Monday morning, if he appears at all, in a red woolen shirt. And they are constantly having their hair trimmed--perfect dandies!"[4]
Brown was trying to capture the spirit of the street children as people who "pull themselves up by their bootstraps."[4]
Many years later, Brown claimed that most of the street children he painted had grown to become successful businessmen.[4]
Brown claimed to bobbies, "I do not paint poor boys solely because the public likes such pictures and pays me for them, but because I love the boys myself, for I, too, was once a poor lad like them."
Referencesedit
^ abBirmingham Museum of Art (1993). . Birmingham, Alabama. p. 202. ISBN0-931394-37-6. Archived from the original on March 14, 2016. Retrieved July 16, 2011.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)
^National Academy Museum and School (2010). . National Academy. Archived from the original on April 29, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
^ abcdBirmingham Museum of Art (2010). . London: Giles. p. 129. ISBN978-1-904832-77-5. Archived from the original on September 10, 2011. Retrieved June 24, 2011.
^"Famous Painter is Dead in New York". San Francisco Chronicle. New York. February 9, 1913. p. 33. Retrieved March 25, 2020 – via Newspapers.com.
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For the environmentalist see Kootenay Brown For the Ontario politician see John G Brown John George Brown November 11 1831 February 8 1913 was a British citizen and an American painter who specialized in genre scenes John George Brown Self portrait 1908 Only A Nickel Joe 1906 Private collection The Cider Mill 1880 Terra Foundation for American Art Daniel J Terra Collection Three for Five 1890 Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham Alabama Contents 1 Biography 2 Quotes 3 References 4 External linksBiography editJohn George Brown was born in Durham England on November 11 1831 His parents apprenticed him to the career of glass worker at the age of fourteen in an attempt to dissuade him from pursuing painting 1 He studied nights at the School of Design in Newcastle on Tyne while working as a glass cutter there between 1849 and 1852 and evenings at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh while working at the Holyrood Glass Works between 1852 and 1853 2 After moving to New York City in 1853 he studied with Thomas Seir Cummings at the National Academy of Design where he was elected a National Academician in 1861 Brown was the Academy s vice president from 1899 to 1904 3 Around 1855 he worked for the owner of the Brooklyn Glass Company as a glassblower and later married the daughter of his employer His father in law encouraged his artistic abilities supporting him financially letting Brown pursue painting full time 1 He established a studio in 1860 and in 1866 he became one of the charter members of the Water Color Society of which he was president from 1887 to 1904 Brown became famous for his idealized depictions of street urchins in New York bootblacks street musicians posy sellers newsboys etc 4 His Passing Show Paris Salon 1877 and Street Boys at Play Paris Exhibition 1900 are good examples of his popular talent Brown s art is best characterized as British genre paintings adapted to American subjects Essentially literary Brown s paintings are executed with precise detail but poor in color and more popular with the general public than with connoisseurs His paintings were quite popular with wealthy collectors Many of Brown s paintings were reproduced as lithographs and widely distributed with packaged teas He also painted some landscapes just for pleasure He died at his home in New York City on February 8 1913 5 Quotes editWishing to more faithfully capture his subjects as they appeared in real life Brown once said They will change their dress as though to show the extent of their wardrobe Being cautioned expressly on Saturday and told to return in the same fustian jacket your boy will appear on Monday morning if he appears at all in a red woolen shirt And they are constantly having their hair trimmed perfect dandies 4 Brown was trying to capture the spirit of the street children as people who pull themselves up by their bootstraps 4 Many years later Brown claimed that most of the street children he painted had grown to become successful businessmen 4 Brown claimed to bobbies I do not paint poor boys solely because the public likes such pictures and pays me for them but because I love the boys myself for I too was once a poor lad like them References edit a b Birmingham Museum of Art 1993 Masterpieces East and West from the Collection of the Birmingham Museum of Art Birmingham Alabama p 202 ISBN 0 931394 37 6 Archived from the original on March 14 2016 Retrieved July 16 2011 a href Template Cite book html title Template Cite book cite book a CS1 maint location missing publisher link Maddox Kenneth W Biography and Works John George Brown http www museothyssen org en thyssen ficha artista 101 National Academy Museum and School 2010 National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts National Academy Archived from the original on April 29 2011 Retrieved June 24 2011 a b c d Birmingham Museum of Art 2010 Birmingham Museum of Art A Guide to the Collection London Giles p 129 ISBN 978 1 904832 77 5 Archived from the original on September 10 2011 Retrieved June 24 2011 Famous Painter is Dead in New York San Francisco Chronicle New York February 9 1913 p 33 Retrieved March 25 2020 via Newspapers com nbsp This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Brown John George Encyclopaedia Britannica 11th ed Cambridge University Press This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Gilman D C Peck H T Colby F M eds 1905 New International Encyclopedia 1st ed New York Dodd Mead a href Template Cite encyclopedia html title Template Cite encyclopedia cite encyclopedia a Missing or empty title help External links edit nbsp Media related to John George Brown at Wikimedia Commons nbsp Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopaedia Britannica article Brown John George John George Brown at MuseumSyndicate Paintings by John George Brown John George Brown at Find a Grave Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title John George Brown amp oldid 1214929977, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
