John Hauser
Encyclopedia
John Hauser was an American painter best known for his portraits of American Indians/Native Americans
and depictions of various aspects of Indian life. He had academic training at art schools in Europe, including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich
. In the United States he became fascinated with Native Americans of the Southwest and West, whom he painted for the rest of his life. In 1893 he traveled with the American artist Joseph Henry Sharp
to Taos, New Mexico
and other areas of that and nearby states. He did so much work at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota that he and his wife were adopted by the Lakota Sioux as members of their nation.
immigrants, Hauser was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
, where he remained for his life. He received his early education in the Cincinnati public school system, and studied drawing at the Ohio Mechanics’ Institute.
In 1873 he enrolled in the McMicken School of Design, where he studied under Thomas Satterwhite Noble
. Hauser first studied in Europe in 1880, when he traveled to Munich
, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. That year he completed his first documented painting, a portrait of the famed Indian scout and tracker "Lord Baltimore" (cf. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
).
, he sailed to Germany, did some traveling, and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich
in October. After completing the program, Hauser continued his studies in Paris and Düsseldorf. He returned to Munich for additional study.
. Thereafter he traveled to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota at every chance through 1908.
, Little Wound
, Bald Face, Red Cloud
, and countless others. Contemporary accounts comment on the realistic accuracy reflected in the portraits, and also in his portrayals of scenes from Indian life. He produced numerous paintings that tell a story, including his largest documented canvas, now in the collection of the Cincinnati Public Schools, which depicts the “Advance of Civilization”.
of his works and a full biography of John Hauser.
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
and depictions of various aspects of Indian life. He had academic training at art schools in Europe, including the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
. In the United States he became fascinated with Native Americans of the Southwest and West, whom he painted for the rest of his life. In 1893 he traveled with the American artist Joseph Henry Sharp
Joseph Henry Sharp
Joseph Henry Sharp was an American painter and a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists, of which he is considered the "Spiritual Father". Sharp was one of the earliest European-American artists to visit Taos, New Mexico, which he saw in 1893 with John Hauser when he visited in 1893...
to Taos, New Mexico
Taos, New Mexico
Taos is a town in Taos County in the north-central region of New Mexico, incorporated in 1934. As of the 2000 census, its population was 4,700. Other nearby communities include Ranchos de Taos, Cañon, Taos Canyon, Ranchitos, and El Prado. The town is close to Taos Pueblo, the Native American...
and other areas of that and nearby states. He did so much work at the Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota that he and his wife were adopted by the Lakota Sioux as members of their nation.
Early life and education
The son of GermanGermans
The Germans are a Germanic ethnic group native to Central Europe. The English term Germans has referred to the German-speaking population of the Holy Roman Empire since the Late Middle Ages....
immigrants, Hauser was born in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
, where he remained for his life. He received his early education in the Cincinnati public school system, and studied drawing at the Ohio Mechanics’ Institute.
In 1873 he enrolled in the McMicken School of Design, where he studied under Thomas Satterwhite Noble
Thomas Satterwhite Noble
Thomas Satterwhite Noble was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He grew up on a plantation where hemp and cotton were grown. Noble saw the effects of slavery firsthand and portrayed many scenes of the Old South in his works. He attended Transylvania University in Lexington and studied art with Oliver...
. Hauser first studied in Europe in 1880, when he traveled to Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
, where he studied at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. That year he completed his first documented painting, a portrait of the famed Indian scout and tracker "Lord Baltimore" (cf. Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid
Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid is a 1969 American Western film directed by George Roy Hill and written by William Goldman...
).
Teaching
In 1883 he became a member of the Drawing Department of the Cincinnati Public Schools, a position he held until he withdrew in 1885 to sail for Europe.Europe
In 1885, in the company of another Cincinnati artist, Joseph Henry SharpJoseph Henry Sharp
Joseph Henry Sharp was an American painter and a founding member of the Taos Society of Artists, of which he is considered the "Spiritual Father". Sharp was one of the earliest European-American artists to visit Taos, New Mexico, which he saw in 1893 with John Hauser when he visited in 1893...
, he sailed to Germany, did some traveling, and enrolled in the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in October. After completing the program, Hauser continued his studies in Paris and Düsseldorf. He returned to Munich for additional study.
Return to the United States
Upon his return to Cincinnati, Hauser began to establish his reputation as an artist. In 1890 he became one of the early members of the Cincinnati Art Club. In 1891 he made his first trip to Arizona and New Mexico, which inspired his interest in portraying Native Americans in his paintings. In 1893 he traveled with John Henry Sharp to New Mexico and other areas of the Southwest. He had a lifelong enchantment with the American Indian and the WestWest
West is a noun, adjective, or adverb indicating direction or geography.West is one of the four cardinal directions or compass points. It is the opposite of east and is perpendicular to north and south.By convention, the left side of a map is west....
. Thereafter he traveled to Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Nebraska, Iowa, and South Dakota at every chance through 1908.
Marriage and family
On July 8, 1896, Hauser married Minnie Boltz. They had no children. Minnie often traveled with him, and in 1901 John and Minnie were adopted by the Sioux nation, who named them in their language with the names meaning “Straight White Shield” and “Bring Us Sweets”, respectively. John and Minnie Hauser spent considerable time on the Pine Ridge reservation, where they camped in a tent on the Sioux lands for six months a year between 1901 and 1905. When the couple built a home in the Clifton area of Cincinnati in 1904, they named it “Pine Ridge” to reflect their love of and respect for the Sioux.Career
Hauser painted hundreds of portraits of Native Americans, including Sitting BullSitting Bull
Sitting Bull Sitting Bull Sitting Bull (Lakota: Tȟatȟáŋka Íyotake (in Standard Lakota Orthography), also nicknamed Slon-he or "Slow"; (c. 1831 – December 15, 1890) was a Hunkpapa Lakota Sioux holy man who led his people as a tribal chief during years of resistance to United States government policies...
, Little Wound
Little Wound
Little Wound b.ca 1835 - d winter 1899, Oglala Lakota chief. Following the death of his brother Bull Bear II in 1865 he became leader of the Kuinyan branch of the Kiyuksa band...
, Bald Face, Red Cloud
Red Cloud
Red Cloud , was a war leader and the head Chief of the Oglala Lakota . His reign was from 1868 to 1909...
, and countless others. Contemporary accounts comment on the realistic accuracy reflected in the portraits, and also in his portrayals of scenes from Indian life. He produced numerous paintings that tell a story, including his largest documented canvas, now in the collection of the Cincinnati Public Schools, which depicts the “Advance of Civilization”.
Legacy
The John Hauser Project has been established as a non-commercial effort to produce a catalogue raisonnéCatalogue raisonné
The typical catalogue raisonné is a monograph giving a comprehensive catalogue of artworks by an artist.The essential elements of a catalogue raisonné are that it purports to be an exhaustive list of works for a defined subject matter describing the works in a way so that they may be reliably...
of his works and a full biography of John Hauser.