Julien Hudson
Encyclopedia
Julien Hudson was a 19th Century free man of color
who lived in New Orleans. He was a successful painter
and art teacher. He is known as the first African American or French Creole of Color
operating in America by whom a self-portrait was found.
and ironmonger. His mother, Suzanne Desiree Marcos, was a free New Orleans quadroon
(of Caucasian and African origins).
Before studying painting, Julien Hudson briefly was a tailor’s apprentice in the mid 1820’s. He then studied with Antoine Meucci, an itinerant miniaturist painter between 1826 and 1827. Hudson’s learning then continued in Paris with well-known artist Alexandre Abel de Pujol
(after 1827).
After returning to New Orleans, Julien Hudson opened his own studio on Bienville Street in 1831.
During this time, many free men of color became professional artists, musicians or writers.
Julien Hudson died in 1844 in New Orleans.
Free people of color
A free person of color in the context of the history of slavery in the Americas, is a person of full or partial African descent who was not enslaved...
who lived in New Orleans. He was a successful 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...
and art teacher. He is known as the first African American or French Creole of Color
Creoles of color
The Creoles of Color are a historic ethnic group of Louisiana, especially the city of New Orleans.-History:During Louisiana’s colonial period, Creole referred to people born in Louisiana with ancestors from elsewhere; i.e., all natives other than Native Americans. They used the term to separate...
operating in America by whom a self-portrait was found.
Biography
Julien Hudson was born January 9, 1811 in New Orleans. His father, John T. Hudson was a British ship chandlerShip chandler
A ship chandler is a retail dealer in special supplies or equipment for ships.For traditional sailing ships items that could be found in a chandler might include: rosin, turpentine, tar, pitch , linseed oil, whale oil, tallow, lard, varnish, twine, rope and cordage, hemp, oakum, tools A ship...
and ironmonger. His mother, Suzanne Desiree Marcos, was a free New Orleans quadroon
Quadroon
Quadroon, and the associated words octoroon and quintroon are terms that, historically, were applied to define the ancestry of people of mixed-race, generally of African and Caucasian ancestry, but also, within Australia, to those of Aboriginal and Caucasian ancestry...
(of Caucasian and African origins).
Before studying painting, Julien Hudson briefly was a tailor’s apprentice in the mid 1820’s. He then studied with Antoine Meucci, an itinerant miniaturist painter between 1826 and 1827. Hudson’s learning then continued in Paris with well-known artist Alexandre Abel de Pujol
Abel de Pujol
Alexandre-Denis-Abel de Pujol or Abel de Pujol was a French painter. He was a student of David and his own students included Alexandre-Gabriel Decamps and Emile Levy. He painted the ceiling of the grand-staircase at the Louvre as well as the galerie de Diane at Fontainebleau and the ceiling of the...
(after 1827).
After returning to New Orleans, Julien Hudson opened his own studio on Bienville Street in 1831.
During this time, many free men of color became professional artists, musicians or writers.
Julien Hudson died in 1844 in New Orleans.
Biography
- In Search of Julien Hudson: Free Artist of Color in Pre–Civil War New Orleans, The Historic New Orleans Collection
- A Mixed Palette: Free Artists of Color of Antebellum New Orleans, Patricia Brady, The International Review of African American Art: 19th Century African American Fine and Craft Arts of the South, Hampton University Museum, Virginia, Volume 12, No. 3, pp. 5–8.
- Two Hundred Year of African American Art, Driskell, David C., Los Angeles and New York: Los Angeles County Museum and Alfred A. Knopf, 1976.