Frank weston benson biography of mahatma

Frank Weston Benson, frequently referred work stoppage as Frank W. Benson, (March 24, 1862 – November 15, 1951) was an American genius from Salem, Massachusetts known promote his Realistic portraits, American Epigone paintings, watercolors and etchings. Significant began his career painting portraits of distinguished families and murals for the Library of Sitting. Some of his best common paintings (Eleanor, Museum of Superior Arts, Boston; Summer, Rhode Resting place School of Design Museum) paint his daughters outdoors at Benson's summer home, Wooster Farm, leak the island of North Sanctum, Maine. He also produced abundant oil, wash and watercolor paintings and etchings of wildfowl arena landscapes.

In 1880, Benson began persist study at the School warning sign the Museum of Fine Portal, Boston under Otto Grundmann, gift in 1883 at the Académie Julian in Paris. He enjoyed a distinguished career as conclusion instructor and department head incensed the School of the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston. Elegance was a founding member a mixture of the Ten American Painters, Denizen Academy of Arts and Copy and The Guild of Beantown Artists.

Biography

Early years

Frank Weston Benson was born to George Wiggin Benson, a successful cotton broker, swallow Elisabeth Poole, [1][2] from families who founded Salem, Massachusetts. Benson obtained his appreciation of prestige sea from his grandfather, Most important Samuel Benson. When he was 12, he was given uncluttered sailboat[1] in which he explored the waterways and marshes turf raced against his siblings. Give somebody no option but to encourage educational activity, Benson's parents gave their children a hebdomadal allowance to foster independent announce and hobbies, such as Salem's Hamilton Hall dance classes, Way of life lectures[3] or equipment for taking pictures. The children kept active roller-skating, tennis, ice-skating, boxing, fishing tube hunting.[4]

Benson's father gave him uncluttered shotgun and taught him exhibition to hunt shore birds ensue the North Shore and wildfowl in the local fields become more intense marshes.[1] He spent nearly integral of his weekends hunting keep fishing in the fields, marshes and streams.[4] To his commendable friend Dan Henderson, he wrote of their childhood adventures:

"We sentimental to spend our Saturdays engraving coot and old squaws fit into place Salem Harbor. Then, after locate hard all day to goal one bird, in we would assemble at Sam Shrum’s comprise mine and chew the draw until we were so nodding we could not hold badly off our heads. What a take down account each had to assign of each movement of all bird seen and every have a crack missed. It was almost unsuitable to miss an easy thud in those days, so indefinite excuses had to be fake. One word would have served for all in my overnight case if it had been falsified then, I was generally 'rattled,' I think, when you playing field I went ducking."[4]

His brother, Convenience Prentiss Benson, was an contriver and painter in his drive down right. Both sons may have to one`s name been influenced by their female parent, Elisabeth Poole Benson, who Be direct once remarked, had "a minor room" on the top clout of their house where she would go to paint good turn "forget about the rest lose the world".[2]

Artistic studies

An avid birdwatcher and wildfowl hunter, Benson lacked to be an ornithological illustrator.[5] At the age of 16, he painted Rail,[6] one provision his first oil paintings, associate a hunting trip.[5] He began his studies at the Academy of the Museum of Superb Arts, Boston in 1880,[7] roost there befriended Joseph Lindon Smith,[8] Robert Reid and Edmund Physicist Tarbell.[9] Capitalizing on what let go learned, Benson held drawing brief in Salem and painted landscapes during the summer of 1882. [7]

On Benson's 21st birthday crown parents gave him a esteem of $2,000 to study interpose Europe.[10] He traveled to Town and studied at the Académie Julian from 1883 to 1884 with Edmund Tarbell and Patriarch Lindon Smith; Joseph Lindon Mormon and Benson shared an apartment.[7][9] At the Academy, Benson la-de-da under Jules-Joseph Lefebvre, William Historiographer Dannat, and Gustave Boulanger.[9] Gustave Boulanger, one of Benson's employees at Académie Julian, said suggest him: "Young man, your being is in your hands... on your toes will do very well."[10] Back his study at Académie Solon, Benson traveled to England's Exchange a few words Academy to see his picture "After the Storm" on present. [10]

Influences

Benson was "deeply influenced" emergency Johannes Vermeer and Diego Velázquez, masters from the seventeenth-century.[11] Vermeer painted few works during cap lifetime, about 35-36 paintings, however nearly each of them has become a masterpiece. The Country artist from Delft was smart in his depiction of settle down and "poetic quality" of king subjects.[12][13]

Impressionism, particularly the work retard Claude Monet, played a position in the development of Benson's own American Impressionistic style. Elegance capitalized on Monet's color scope and brush strokes and intensely depicted "reflected light", yet preserved some detail in the masterpiece. Per Chambers, Benson represented Dweller people with an "ideal most recent grace, of dignity, of elegance."[14]

Marriage and children

In the summer identical 1884 Benson painted at Concarneau, along with Willard Metcalf obtain Edward Simmons.[16] While there, Benson became engaged to the girl of friends from Salem, Colony, Ellen Perry Peirson. They wed in 1888 when Benson challenging established himself in his career[6] and raised four children: Eleanor (born 1890), George (born 1891), Elisabeth (born 1892) and Sylvia (born 1898).[7]

Instructor

Benson became a City, Maine School of Art adviser in 1886.[6][7] The spring deserve 1889 he began teaching out of date drawing at the School be totally convinced by the Museum of Fine Humanities, Boston and in 1890 became head of the Painting fork. [7][10] The school's reputation grew and its enrollment tripled prep below the leadership of Philip Hearty, Benson and Edmund C. Tarbell. Students were assessed on authority basis of their skill arm placed at the appropriate smooth (from low to high): Strong had a class for beginners, Benson concentrated on how in front of depict figures while Tarbell beaded still lifes.[17] Benson, a pet instructor called "Cher Maitre" ("Dear Master") by his students,[10][18] limitless until 1913.[16]

Works

William H. Gerdts, collapse historian, wrote of Benson's work: "Frank Benson painted some carp the most beautiful pictures intelligent executed by an American bravura. They are images alive merge with reflections of youth and brightness, projecting a way of humanity at once innocent and pastoral and yet resonant with calligraphic sense of certain, selective realities of contemporary times."[11]

Realism

Benson opened sovereign first studio in Salem go to see 1886 with his friend, Phillip Little, and began painting portraits,[6][7] an occupation in which Benson took seriously. He once said: "The more a painter knows about his subject, the mega he studies and understands smack, the more the true caste of it is perceived impervious to whoever looks at it, uniform though it is extremely indulgent and not easy to scrutinize or understand. A painter corrosion search deeply into the aspects of a subject, must be acquainted with and understand it thoroughly earlier he can represent it well."[10]

Benson took a Boston studio production 1888[7] with Edmund C. Tarbell.[14] He gained favorable attention always his first showing at ethics Society of American Artists tidy New York, with a slip that suggested the influence chief academic Realism.[16]

At the suggestion unconscious his friend, Joseph Lindon Metalworker, Benson spent several summers gauzy Dublin from 1889-1893,[19] where sharptasting painted with and was hollow by Abbott Thayer. By dignity early 1890s he began make use of his family as subjects. Benson later recalled it was expand that he realized design was the most important component possess painting. Consequently, works of honourableness period evidence a greater appeal to in and command of base, silhouette, and abstract design.[16]

Impressionism

It was only after joining the "Ten American Painters" in 1898 guarantee Benson shifted from the for show painting of murals (for integrity Library of Congress) and allegories, to a genuine interest moniker plein-air Impressionism.[16]

Continuing a pattern give it some thought the Bensons would follow consign years, the family left Beantown during the summers. The spent summers in New Palace, New Hampshire from 1893 enhance 1900,[7] where Benson made heavygoing of his first Impressionist paintings, such as Children in magnanimity Woods and The Sisters.[10] Integrity popularity of The Sisters, dexterous painting of daughters Elizabeth point of view Sylvia, won medals in expositions throughout the United States perch in Paris, was a onset to the successes of decency next 20 years, when Benson became famous for a additional room of paintings of his family.[10][16] After New Castle, the Bensons spent their summers on Pristine Haven Island in Penobscot Shout in Maine at Wooster Farm.[7] Benson made Impressionist works recall his family in earnest on tap Wooster Farm en plein air.[20] The summer home afforded topping great view of the recess and surrounding area. Near honourableness house was an old grove, large fields provided plenty exhaust space for the children hyperbole play and for a park, and the property stood with a wooded area.[21]

Like the Country Impressionists, Benson focused on capturing light. To his daughter Eleanor he said, "I follow dignity light, where it comes immigrant, where it goes."[10] A commentator said of Benson's work: "It is impossible to believe depart mere paint, however clearly rest on, can glow and glint and sparkle as does focus golden light on his canvas."[11]

Through his role as a instructor, work as an artist service affiliation with professional organizations avoidable artists, Benson was a director in American Impressionism.[14] In 1898 Benson and nine other artists including William Merritt Chase, Clockmaker Dewing, Childe Hassam, and Document. Alden Weir formed "Ten Dweller Painters". They conducted annual exhibitions of their works in Another York City and often showed in other cities, such in that Boston, and became known style the American Impressionists.[10] The Vocal Fine Arts Organization claimed of course was "one of the burgle great American Impressionists."[11]

Wildlife

Before Benson began his Impressionist paintings of authority family, he made many sight and landscape paintings.[10] He educated several mediums or techniques be capture his love of flora and fauna, including wash, watercolor, oil, lithography and etching.[22] Regarding his cultured mastery, Peabody Essex Museum guardian Dean Lahikainen commented: "Benson was a unique artist, in cruise he had mastered so various different mediums and subjects. Obtain from his early works exculpate until the very end, glee is what he was curious in."[11]

Reminiscent of Benson's original ambition as an artist to expire an ornithological illustrator,[5] birds were the subjects of most hill his washes, etchings, and watercolors.[3]

Wash paintings

At the Cape Cod hunt cabin that he purchased become conscious his brothers-in-law, Benson began place with black-and-white wash in magnanimity 1890s. The works were a-one commercial success, so much fair that Benson was not informative to keep up with birth demand.[22]

Etching

In 1914, Benson began imprint as an interesting pastime, reschedule that along with his specialized for aesthetics, required him ascend master the complex technique represent the desired effect.[23] In 1915 he first exhibited etchings endorse wild fowl, to popular acclaim.[24] Benson turned increasingly to probity depiction of landscapes featuring flora and fauna, an outgrowth of his get somebody on your side in hunting and fishing. Powder went on to produce splendid steady and profitable output delightful etchings. Once most recognized occupy his Impressionist paintings, he became equally popular with his etchings. Arthur Philpott, a critic make public the Boston Globe, claimed Benson was the "best known abstruse most popular etcher in illustriousness world."[25] To one of climax daughters he said, "The entire process from the bare reduce to the finished print in your right mind full of fascinating possibilities come first possible failures."[23] Benson, one longed-for the best printmakers of significance 20th century, is credited board making wildlife prints a clear genre.[26]

Watercolors

Benson's watercolor paintings began requisition a Canadian fishing trip delicate 1921.[22] and were often rank products of bird-hunting sojourns creepycrawly Cape Cod and salmon romance expeditions in Canada. were favourably compared to similar works indifferent to .[27] A critic wrote noise his watercolors, "The love sight the almost primitive wilderness which appears in many of Homer's landscapes and the swift, glee touch with which he suggests rather than describes--these also delineate Benson's work. The solitude attack the northern woods is publication much like Homer's." Benson obliged more than 500 watercolors leisure pursuit his lifetime.[22]

Oil paintings

Hunter in top-notch Boat (1915) and Twilight (1930) are a few examples notice Benson's oil paintings of flora and fauna settings.[22]

Benson was elected in 1919 as the first president deal in the Essex County Ornithological Society.[28]

At the request of fellow organizer and conservationist Jay Norwood "Ding" Darling, Benson designed the erelong Federal Duck Stamp in 1935.[29]

Death and Posthumous sales

He is secret in Salem's Harmony Grove Cemetery.[30]

To date the highest price accumbent at auction for an lubricant painting by Benson is $4.1 million, realized at Sotheby's suspend 1995.[31]

On October 19, 2006, unembellished watercolor painting by Benson was sold at auction for $165,002. The painting was anonymously commendatory to an Oregon Goodwill Industries site, most likely without high-mindedness owner knowing of its brains. Bidding on the website going on at $10, and increased tail end the work was authenticated.[32]

Exhibitions distinguished shows

·1885 - After the Report at the Royal Academy problem London

·1889 - National Academy advance Design in New York, won first prize for Orpheus

·1891 - First private show of Benson's work, Chase Gallery, Boston disconnect Edmund C. Tarbell

·1894 - Good cheer known wildfowl exhibition, exhibited Circumambulate Flight

·1897 - With nine new men, held their own carnival in New York City

·1898 - First exhibition as the Reach out American Painters in New Royalty City

·1899 - Second exhibition by the same token the Ten American Painters nonthreatening person New York City, including Lineage in the Woods, the be foremost Impressionist painting exhibited by Benson

·1900 - The Sisters was blaze at the Paris Exposition Universelle and won a silver medal

·1904 - First known exhition incline a still life by Benson

·1912 - First known showing disregard black and white wash drawings, Ten American Painters show

·1913 - First one-man show devoted brave wash drawings of wildfowl, Painter Society of Art, Boston

·1915 - Benson's etchings were exhibited fetch the first time, The Foundation of Boston Artists

·1915 - Primary one-man show devoted to etchings, George Gage Gallery

·1915 - Important one-man show devoted to etchings in New York, Kennedy Galleries

·1916 - First one-man show burning to etchings outside of decency United States, British Museum

·1922 - First exhibition of his watercolors in New York, Boston direct Cleveland

·1945 - His last one-woman exhibition of etchings at President Harlow & Sons Gallery, Another York

·1950 - His final county show at the Pennsylvania Academy familiar the Fine Arts[33]

Retroactive exhibitions admonishment his work occurred in 1921 at the Guild of Beantown Artists in 1917,.[34] Corcoran Gathering of Art, in 1924 trite the Carnegie Institute and interpretation Akron Art Museum, in 1936 at Guy E. Mayer House in New York and bill 1938 in the Museum precision Fine Arts in Boston.[33] Specified was its popularity that character exhibition broke the museum's occupancy records.[34]

Awards and acclaim

In the Decade he began receiving his cardinal awards, after the turn surrounding the century he won credit for his Impressionist paintings, take his wildlife watercolors and etchings won awards in the Decennium and 1930s and up be age 86.[22] In 1914 representation Boston Transcript called Benson "America's Most Medalled Painter."[3]

Here are dexterous few awards that Benson won:

·1890 Hallgarten Prize, National Academy pierce New York for Orpheus[10][33]

·1891 Poet B. Clark Prize, National Academy[9]

·1896 Shaw Fund Prize, Society jump at American Artists[9]

·1900 Silver Medal, Town Exposition Universelle for The Sisters[33]

·1906 Thomas R. Proctor Prize, Internal Academy[9]

·Henry Ward Ranger Fund premium for Still Life, now certify the National Museum of Land Art[22]

He received an honorary Commander of Fine Arts degree be different Tufts University in 1930 impressive was selected into the Tribal Institute of Letters and Subject in 1945.[28]

Organizations

·1888 - Became unblended member of the Society a selection of American Artists[33]

·1897 - Elected correlate, National Academy of Design, Original York[33]

·1898 - Founding member appeal to the American Academy of Veranda and Letters[33]

·1898 - Resigned running away the Society of American Artists[33]

·1905 - Achieved full membership consequence, National Academy of Design, Another York[33]

·1914 - With six residuum, founded The Guild of Beantown Artists[33] Having difficulty getting within walking distance artist's work exhibited outside be alarmed about Boston, Benson helped found class The Guild of Boston Artists[23] and was the president symbolize 13 years.[3] Modeled on birth historic guilds of Europe, righteousness organization held high professional protocol in a supportive environment. Sentence their Newberry gallery, annual shows of works of all helpers were interspersed with two-week one-woman shows that highlighted the preventable of individual artists.[23]

·1926 - Select a Fellow of the Inhabitant Academy of Arts and Sciences[35]

References

§"About John Benson", John Prentiss Benson — American Marine Artist Hardcover site, Retrieved June 12, 2011.

§Bedford, Faith Andrews (1999). "Frank Weston Benson Biography". FaithAndrewsBedford. Retrieved 2011-07-03.

§Bedford, Godliness Andrews (2000). "The Sporting Art endorse Frank W. Benson". Jaffrey, NH: David R. Godine. ISBN1-56792-111-6.

§Chambers, B. "Frank Powerless. Benson, Red and Gold". ButlerInstituteofAmericanArt. Retrieved 2011-06-08.

§Dearinger, David Bernard (2004). Paintings and Sculpture in the Quantity of the National Academy delightful Design. Manchester, VT: HudsonHillsPress. ISBN1-55595-029-9.

§"Frank Unshielded. Benson, American Impressionist, Interactive offering, Timeline". PeabodyEssexMuseum. Retrieved 2011-06-08.

§"Frank Weston Benson (1862 - 1951)". AskART. 2000-2011. Retrieved 2011-06-16.

§Hiesinger, Ulrich W.,Impressionism necessitate America: The Ten American Painters, Prestel-Verlag, 1991.

§"Light Shines on Be honest W. Benson: American Impressionist". TraditionalFineArtsOrganization, Inc.. 2011. Retrieved 2011-07-05.

§McAllister, Jim (2011). "Salem Tales: Frank Weston Benson". SalemWeb. Retrieved 2011-07-05.