Lewis Miller (Folk Artist)
Encyclopedia
Lewis Miller was a Pennsylvania German folk art
ist, noted for his watercolors of historical and every day events.
Miller was born in York, Pennsylvania
. A carpenter
by trade, he kept several journals throughout his life which he filled with simple watercolors, richly embedded with text and captions chronicling life in the early and mid-19th century. His work is most notable for its depiction of life of ordinary people in rural Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is of special interest to historians for its depictions of everyday life and insight into local culture and customs.
He spent most of his life in and near York, but also traveled to Europe
(including Württemberg
and the upper Rhine near where his parents had been born) and later in life frequently visited Christiansburg, Virginia
, drawing and capturing scenes and events for posterity. He drew a series of watercolors depicting scenes in York during the American Civil War
, including several related to the Gettysburg Campaign
and the Battle of Hanover
.
Miller's works today can be found in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg
in Virginia; the York County Heritage Trust Museum in York, Pennsylvania; Montgomery Museum in Christiansburg, Virginia; and at the Virginia Historical Society
in Richmond, Virginia. Sixteen mini-murals in York
are based on drawings from Miller's journals.
Folk art
Folk art encompasses art produced from an indigenous culture or by peasants or other laboring tradespeople. In contrast to fine art, folk art is primarily utilitarian and decorative rather than purely aesthetic....
ist, noted for his watercolors of historical and every day events.
Miller was born in York, Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania
York, known as the White Rose City , is a city located in York County, Pennsylvania, United States which is in the South Central region of the state. The population within the city limits was 43,718 at the 2010 census, which was a 7.0% increase from the 2000 count of 40,862...
. A carpenter
Carpenter
A carpenter is a skilled craftsperson who works with timber to construct, install and maintain buildings, furniture, and other objects. The work, known as carpentry, may involve manual labor and work outdoors....
by trade, he kept several journals throughout his life which he filled with simple watercolors, richly embedded with text and captions chronicling life in the early and mid-19th century. His work is most notable for its depiction of life of ordinary people in rural Pennsylvania Dutch country. It is of special interest to historians for its depictions of everyday life and insight into local culture and customs.
He spent most of his life in and near York, but also traveled to Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
(including Württemberg
Württemberg
Württemberg , formerly known as Wirtemberg or Wurtemberg, is an area and a former state in southwestern Germany, including parts of the regions Swabia and Franconia....
and the upper Rhine near where his parents had been born) and later in life frequently visited Christiansburg, Virginia
Christiansburg, Virginia
Christiansburg is a town in Montgomery County, Virginia, United States. The population was 21,041 at the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, drawing and capturing scenes and events for posterity. He drew a series of watercolors depicting scenes in York during the American Civil War
American Civil War
The American Civil War was a civil war fought in the United States of America. In response to the election of Abraham Lincoln as President of the United States, 11 southern slave states declared their secession from the United States and formed the Confederate States of America ; the other 25...
, including several related to the Gettysburg Campaign
Gettysburg Campaign
The Gettysburg Campaign was a series of battles fought in June and July 1863, during the American Civil War. After his victory in the Battle of Chancellorsville, Confederate General Robert E. Lee's Army of Northern Virginia moved north for offensive operations in Maryland and Pennsylvania. The...
and the Battle of Hanover
Battle of Hanover
The Battle of Hanover took place on June 30, 1863, in Hanover in southwestern York County, Pennsylvania, as part of the Gettysburg Campaign of the American Civil War....
.
Miller's works today can be found in the Abby Aldrich Rockefeller Folk Art Museum at Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
in Virginia; the York County Heritage Trust Museum in York, Pennsylvania; Montgomery Museum in Christiansburg, Virginia; and at the Virginia Historical Society
Virginia Historical Society
The Virginia Historical Society , founded in 1831 as the Virginia Historical and Philosophical Society and headquartered in Richmond, Virginia, is a major repository, research, and teaching center for Virginia history...
in Richmond, Virginia. Sixteen mini-murals in York
Murals of York, PA
*The ' are a series of murals painted on the sides of buildings in York, Pennsylvania between 1996 and 2002. Paid for with local donations, the murals provide the community with details about some lesser-known people, businesses, and customs of the city while adding artistic beauty...
are based on drawings from Miller's journals.