Peter Grain
Encyclopedia
Peter Grain was a French-American artist who achieved success in the United States
. Known for his panoramas, landscapes, portraits, dioramas, portrait miniatures, and theatrical designs, he was also an architect
and the author of at least one stage play. His family was involved in theatrical design in New York, Philadelphia and other major American cities for at least two generations.
with the Circus of Pépin and Breschard
, a company which toured the United States from 1807 until 1815. On August 2, 1809, Pépin and Breschard presented his play Billy, or the Reward of a Good Action in New York City
. This "New Pantomime" included "combats" on horseback, making it an early example of hippodrama
. Grain was cast as the title character. His billing as "Mr. Grain" can be seen in other advertisements for the company's 1809 season.
in 1815, where he created a setting for The Hero of the North; or, The Deliverer of His Country performed by an amateur company in Washington, DC. The setting included the Star Spangled Banner and portrayed Fort McHenry
and the "Victory of Lake Champlain." He advertised himself as a "drawing master" in Richmond, Virginia
in 1822.
In 1823 Grain's Picture of the Shipwreck of the Packet Albion, portraying the loss of the New York and Liverpool Line Ship Albion, on the Coast of Ireland in April, 1822,
on one hundred and twenty feet of canvas, was viewed by the public in Charleston, S.C. He was employed by Henry Hanington, dioramist (panorama painter), in 1836. The Grain name was used as the principal painter in Charles Kean
's revivals of Shakespeare's Richard III
(1845), and The Life and Death of King John (1846). During 1849 Grain exhibited the Grand Panorama of Scotts Battles in Mexico, commemorating the 1847 Mexican-American War exploits of General Winfield Scott
.
Panorama of the Hudson and James Rivers - Scenes in Virginia, painted in oil and watercolor, was exhibited at the San Francisco Hall in San Francisco in March 1853. A moving panorama
, it covered 9,400 feet of canvas. Scenes included "A View at Sea, 20 miles below Sandy Hook; New York City and Harbor; West Point by Moonlight; a fine view of the Catskill Mountains; the City of Albany; Scenes in Virginia; the Great Natural Bridge; Scenes on James River and Kanawha Canal", and "portraying to the eye and imagination of the visitor views over an extent of 5,000 miles". This panorama had previously been shown in most major cities of the United States, including Charleston in 1850.
While on its national tour, the moving panorama made a stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan
, where "an astonished village looked at it for twenty-five cents a head."
At the present time View of New York from Jersey City (with Windmill), 1835, an oil painting, is in the collection of the Museum of the City of New York
. Grain is mentioned in the National Gallery of Art
provenance of a portrait by Gilbert Stuart
, The Circus Rider. He is listed as owning the painting in the mid-19th century. The identification of the sitter in the portrait is disputed.
in New York City
(originally the Lafayette Circus) was redesigned by Grain in 1827. The circus ring was replaced and an inclined plane was added to give it a rake similar to modern theatres. At the time it was the largest theatre in both the United States and the United Kingdom
.
Peter Grain, his brother Frederick (a noted panorama painter), and Peter Grain Jr. all worked as scenographer
s for numerous theatres. Peter Jr. was based at The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia (built by the Circus of Pépin and Breschard in 1809) for most of his career.
Catalogs from the Philadelphia scenic studio, scenic supply and rental concern established by the family are still in existence.
Theatres associated with the Grain family are; the Charleston Theatre, Charleston, SC; the Chatham Garden Theatre
in New York City; the Park Theatre (Manhattan, New York); the Chestnut Street Theatre and the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia; Welch's Olympic Circus; Niblo's Garden
; the Bowery Theatre
; and others.
One contemporary critic described the family as being among the best artists in the country.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. Known for his panoramas, landscapes, portraits, dioramas, portrait miniatures, and theatrical designs, he was also an architect
Architect
An architect is a person trained in the planning, design and oversight of the construction of buildings. To practice architecture means to offer or render services in connection with the design and construction of a building, or group of buildings and the space within the site surrounding the...
and the author of at least one stage play. His family was involved in theatrical design in New York, Philadelphia and other major American cities for at least two generations.
Early life
Born in France, Grain was originally a performer and playwrightPlaywright
A playwright, also called a dramatist, is a person who writes plays.The term is not a variant spelling of "playwrite", but something quite distinct: the word wright is an archaic English term for a craftsman or builder...
with the Circus of Pépin and Breschard
Circus of Pepin and Breschard
The equestrian theatre company of Pépin and Breschard, American Victor Pépin and Frenchman Jean Baptiste Casmiere Breschard, arrived in the United States of America from Madrid, Spain , in November 1807. They toured that new country until 1815...
, a company which toured the United States from 1807 until 1815. On August 2, 1809, Pépin and Breschard presented his play Billy, or the Reward of a Good Action in 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...
. This "New Pantomime" included "combats" on horseback, making it an early example of hippodrama
Hippodrama
Hippodrama, or horse drama, is a genre of theatrical show blending circus horsemanship display with popular melodrama theatre. Evolving from earlier equestrian circus, pioneered by Philip Astley in the 1760s,, it relied on drama plays written specifically for the genre; trained horses were...
. Grain was cast as the title character. His billing as "Mr. Grain" can be seen in other advertisements for the company's 1809 season.
Painting
Grain's earliest recognition as a painter occurred in MarylandMaryland
Maryland is a U.S. state located in the Mid Atlantic region of the United States, bordering Virginia, West Virginia, and the District of Columbia to its south and west; Pennsylvania to its north; and Delaware to its east...
in 1815, where he created a setting for The Hero of the North; or, The Deliverer of His Country performed by an amateur company in Washington, DC. The setting included the Star Spangled Banner and portrayed Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry
Fort McHenry, in Baltimore, Maryland, is a star-shaped fort best known for its role in the War of 1812, when it successfully defended Baltimore Harbor from an attack by the British navy in Chesapeake Bay...
and the "Victory of Lake Champlain." He advertised himself as a "drawing master" in Richmond, Virginia
Richmond, Virginia
Richmond is the capital of the Commonwealth of Virginia, in the United States. It is an independent city and not part of any county. Richmond is the center of the Richmond Metropolitan Statistical Area and the Greater Richmond area...
in 1822.
In 1823 Grain's Picture of the Shipwreck of the Packet Albion, portraying the loss of the New York and Liverpool Line Ship Albion, on the Coast of Ireland in April, 1822,
on one hundred and twenty feet of canvas, was viewed by the public in Charleston, S.C. He was employed by Henry Hanington, dioramist (panorama painter), in 1836. The Grain name was used as the principal painter in Charles Kean
Charles Kean
Charles John Kean , was born at Waterford, Ireland, the son of the actor Edmund Kean.After preparatory education at Worplesdon and at Greenford, near Harrow, he was sent to Eton College, where he remained three years...
's revivals of Shakespeare's Richard III
Richard III (play)
Richard III is a history play by William Shakespeare, believed to have been written in approximately 1591. It depicts the Machiavellian rise to power and subsequent short reign of Richard III of England. The play is grouped among the histories in the First Folio and is most often classified...
(1845), and The Life and Death of King John (1846). During 1849 Grain exhibited the Grand Panorama of Scotts Battles in Mexico, commemorating the 1847 Mexican-American War exploits of General Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott
Winfield Scott was a United States Army general, and unsuccessful presidential candidate of the Whig Party in 1852....
.
Panorama of the Hudson and James Rivers - Scenes in Virginia, painted in oil and watercolor, was exhibited at the San Francisco Hall in San Francisco in March 1853. A moving panorama
Moving panorama
The moving panorama was a relative, more in concept than design, to panoramic painting, but proved to be more durable than its fixed and immense cousin. The word “panorama” is derived from the Greek words “to see” and “all.” Robert Barker invented the first panorama to describe his impressive...
, it covered 9,400 feet of canvas. Scenes included "A View at Sea, 20 miles below Sandy Hook; New York City and Harbor; West Point by Moonlight; a fine view of the Catskill Mountains; the City of Albany; Scenes in Virginia; the Great Natural Bridge; Scenes on James River and Kanawha Canal", and "portraying to the eye and imagination of the visitor views over an extent of 5,000 miles". This panorama had previously been shown in most major cities of the United States, including Charleston in 1850.
While on its national tour, the moving panorama made a stop in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Michigan
Michigan is a U.S. state located in the Great Lakes Region of the United States of America. The name Michigan is the French form of the Ojibwa word mishigamaa, meaning "large water" or "large lake"....
, where "an astonished village looked at it for twenty-five cents a head."
At the present time View of New York from Jersey City (with Windmill), 1835, an oil painting, is in the collection of the Museum of the City of New York
Museum of the City of New York
The Museum of the City of New York is an art gallery and history museum founded in 1923 to present the history of New York City, USA and its people...
. Grain is mentioned in the National Gallery of Art
National Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
provenance of a portrait by Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Stuart
Gilbert Charles Stuart was an American painter from Rhode Island.Gilbert Stuart is widely considered to be one of America's foremost portraitists...
, The Circus Rider. He is listed as owning the painting in the mid-19th century. The identification of the sitter in the portrait is disputed.
Architectural Work
The Lafayette TheatreLafayette Circus (Theatre)
Lafayette Circus Theatre emerged in Manhattan in 1825 as an equestrian circus arena; in 1826–1827 it was rebuilt into a conventional theatre hall with an orchestra pit and advanced rigging. It boasted equipment for both equestrian and aquatic drama...
in 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...
(originally the Lafayette Circus) was redesigned by Grain in 1827. The circus ring was replaced and an inclined plane was added to give it a rake similar to modern theatres. At the time it was the largest theatre in both the United States and the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
Family of Artists
Three of Grain’s sons also became artists: Peter Grain, Jr., George, and Urban A. Grain.Peter Grain, his brother Frederick (a noted panorama painter), and Peter Grain Jr. all worked as scenographer
Scenographer
A scenographer develops the appearance of a stage design, a TV or movie set, a gaming environment, a trade fair exhibition design or a museum experience exhibition design. The term originated in theater...
s for numerous theatres. Peter Jr. was based at The Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia (built by the Circus of Pépin and Breschard in 1809) for most of his career.
Catalogs from the Philadelphia scenic studio, scenic supply and rental concern established by the family are still in existence.
Theatres associated with the Grain family are; the Charleston Theatre, Charleston, SC; the Chatham Garden Theatre
Chatham Garden Theatre
The Chatham Garden Theatre or Chatham Theatre was a playhouse in the Chatham Gardens of New York City. It was located on the north side of Chatham Street on Park Row between Pearl and Duane streets in lower Manhattan. The grounds ran through to Augustus Street...
in New York City; the Park Theatre (Manhattan, New York); the Chestnut Street Theatre and the Arch Street Theatre in Philadelphia; Welch's Olympic Circus; Niblo's Garden
Niblo's Garden
Niblo's Garden was a New York theatre on Broadway, near Prince Street. It was established in 1823 as "Columbia Garden" which in 1828 gained the name of the Sans Souci and was later the property of the coffeehouse proprietor and caterer William Niblo. The large theatre that evolved in several...
; the Bowery Theatre
Bowery Theatre
The Bowery Theatre was a playhouse in the Bowery neighborhood of New York City. Although it was founded by rich families to compete with the upscale Park Theatre, the Bowery saw its most successful period under the populist, pro-American management of Thomas Hamblin in the 1830s and 1840s...
; and others.
One contemporary critic described the family as being among the best artists in the country.