Art of the 1840s

Two important artists from the 1840s were George Caleb Bingham and Edward Hicks. Two very different painters of the time but still very famous and influential in their times.

George Caleb Bingham was born on March 20, 1811 in Augusta County, Virginia. He was a self-taught artist at age 9. When famous American portraitist Chester Harding came by for business, George became his apprentice and assisted him during his stay, an inspiration that would stay with him forever. In 1823 his father died of malaria, so his mother opened an all girl school, while he worked as a school janitor at age 12 to help out his family. By age nineteen he started to sell his artwork for $20 a piece, and would usually complete an artwork in a single day. Later on George wanted to travel to St. Louis but he caught measles which left him weak and permanently In 1836, He later married Sarah Elizabeth Hutchison and had 3 kids with her before she died. Then he got married again to Eliza Thomas. By 1838, he’s been getting to be known as a portrait artist in St. Louis. Some of his artworks of the 1840s are “Boatmen on the Missouri” (1846), “Country Politician”(1849) and “Watching the Cargo”(1849). He later died on July 7, 1879.

Edward Hicks was born on April 4, 1780 in Bucks County, Pennsylvania and was an American folk painter. Hick’s mother died when he was an infant and he was raised by a Quaker family. Thanks to his family, Hick believed in the religion and became a traveling minister. He became his painting career as a apprentice to a coach builder painting ornaments on carriages. Later on, he started his own business decorating furniture. Hick’s Quaker faith became to get in the way of his artist career. But he was criticized by his own religious people for his reason to paint. He left painting for a while until he figured out how to combine painting and religion. He painted many famous painting in the 1840s like “The Residence of David Twining” (1845 - 1848), “Noah’s Ark” (1846), “Penn’s Treaty” (1847), and “The Cornell Farm”(1848). Edward died on August 23, 1849. He was a very important painter at the time because he showed people that’s you can be a painter and still believe in religion.

This era shows how influenced people become what they really wanted to be. How Edward still continued to be a painter even though his religion was a bit against it and George continued to paint even though he caught the measles. Two different painters who influenced people today. What would we do without them.

Resources

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Caleb_Bingham

http://www.spartacus.schoolnet.co.uk/WWbirdking.htm

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edward_Hicks

  
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