John George Brown
Encyclopedia
John George Brown British
and American
painter
, was born in Durham, England, on 11 November 1831. He studied at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the Edinburgh Academy
. His parents apprenticed him to a glass worker
at the age of fourteen, in an attempt to dissuade him from pursuing painting. After moving to New York City
in 1853, he studied with Thomas Seir Cummings
at the National Academy of Design
, where he was a National Academician from 1861-1863. He was the Academy's vice-president from 1899 to 1904. Around 1855 he married the daughter of his employer, the owner of a Brooklyn glass company. His father-in-law continued to encourage his artistic abilities, supporting him financially so Brown could paint full time. 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 depictions of street urchins he found on the streets of New York, like bootblacks, street musicians, posy sellers, newsboys
, etc. 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, it is executed with precise detail, but is poor in color, and more popular with the general public than with connoisseurs.
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
and American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
painter
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
, was born in Durham, England, on 11 November 1831. He studied at Newcastle-on-Tyne, in the Edinburgh Academy
Edinburgh Academy
The Edinburgh Academy is an independent school which was opened in 1824. The original building, in Henderson Row on the northern fringe of the New Town of Edinburgh, Scotland, is now part of the Senior School...
. His parents apprenticed him to a glass worker
Glazier
A Glazier is a construction professional who selects, cuts, installs, replaces, and removes residential, commercial, and artistic glass. Glaziers also install aluminum storefront frames and entrances, glass handrails and balustrades, shower enclosures, curtain wall framing and glass and mirror...
at the age of fourteen, in an attempt to dissuade him from pursuing painting. After moving to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
in 1853, he studied with Thomas Seir Cummings
Thomas Seir Cummings
Thomas Seir Cummings was an American miniature painter and author, born at Bath, England. He came to New York early in life and studied there with Henry Inman. He painted miniatures in water color, and many of his sitters were well-known contemporaries of the artist...
at the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, where he was a National Academician from 1861-1863. He was the Academy's vice-president from 1899 to 1904. Around 1855 he married the daughter of his employer, the owner of a Brooklyn glass company. His father-in-law continued to encourage his artistic abilities, supporting him financially so Brown could paint full time. 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 depictions of street urchins he found on the streets of New York, like bootblacks, street musicians, posy sellers, newsboys
Newsboys
Newsboys are a Christian pop rock band founded in 1985 in Mooloolaba, Australia. They have released 15 studio albums, six of which have been certified gold...
, etc. 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, it is executed with precise detail, but is poor in color, and more popular with the general public than with connoisseurs.
Quotes
- Wishing to more faithfully capture his subjects as they appear 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!"
- Brown was trying to capture the spirit of the street children as people who "pull themselves up by their bootstraps."
- Many years later, Brown claimed that most of the street children he painted had grown to become successful businessmen.
- Brown claimed to never forget his poor beginnings, saying "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."