Seth Wells Cheney
Encyclopedia
Seth Wells Cheney American artist, a pioneer of crayon
work in the United States
.
and Paul Delaroche when he returned to he started drawing portraits in Boston in 1841.
His portraits are in black and white crayon. He was one of the earliest American artists in black and white, and excelled in giving spirituality to his portraits and ideal female faces, which were sought by collectors. Among his works are portraits of Theodore Parker
with his wife, James Walker
(president of Harvard
), William Cullen Bryant
, and Ephraim Peabody
, “Rosalie,” and “A Roman Girl.” On May 10, 1848 he was made an associate of the National Academy of Design
.
When the poet Fitz-Greene Halleck
expressed surprise that his portrait was not finished, Cheney said, “I will finish it,” whereupon he put his foot through it.
He died in South Manchester, Connecticut.
, a prominent silk manufacturer of South Manchester. He was married twice first in September 1847 to Emily Woodbridge Pitkin, daughter of Horace Pitkin and Emily Woodbridge. His wife, Emily, died without issue in 1850. Three years later on 19 May 1853 he married Ednah Dow Littlehale
, daughter of Sargent Smith Littledale and Ednah Parker (Dow). This marriage produced one child: Margaret Swan Cheney (8 September 1855 – 22 September 1882) His memoirs were published by Ednah, his second wife, in 1881.
Crayon
A crayon is a stick of colored wax, charcoal, chalk, or other materials used for writing, coloring, drawing, and other methods of illustration. A crayon made of oiled chalk is called an oil pastel; when made of pigment with a dry binder, it is simply a pastel; both are popular media for color...
work in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
He was the son of George Cheney and Electa Woodbridge. He received a public school education. In 1833 he went to Paris and studied under Jean-Baptiste IsabeyJean-Baptiste Isabey
Jean-Baptiste Isabey was a French painter born at Nancy.At nineteen, after some lessons from Dumont, miniature painter to Marie Antoinette, he became a pupil of Jacques-Louis David...
and Paul Delaroche when he returned to he started drawing portraits in Boston in 1841.
His portraits are in black and white crayon. He was one of the earliest American artists in black and white, and excelled in giving spirituality to his portraits and ideal female faces, which were sought by collectors. Among his works are portraits of Theodore Parker
Theodore Parker
Theodore Parker was an American Transcendentalist and reforming minister of the Unitarian church...
with his wife, James Walker
James Walker
-Politics:*James Walker , English MP for Exeter*Sir James Walker, 2nd Baronet , British MP for Beverley*Jimmy Walker , born James J...
(president of Harvard
Harvard University
Harvard University is a private Ivy League university located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States, established in 1636 by the Massachusetts legislature. Harvard is the oldest institution of higher learning in the United States and the first corporation chartered in the country...
), William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant
William Cullen Bryant was an American romantic poet, journalist, and long-time editor of the New York Evening Post.-Youth and education:...
, and Ephraim Peabody
Ephraim Peabody
Ephraim Peabody was a Unitarian clergyman from the United States.-Biography:...
, “Rosalie,” and “A Roman Girl.” On May 10, 1848 he was made an associate of 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...
.
When the poet Fitz-Greene Halleck
Fitz-Greene Halleck
Fitz-Greene Halleck was an American poet notable for his satires and as one of the Knickerbocker Group. Born and reared in Guilford, Connecticut, he went to New York City at the age of 20, and lived and worked there for nearly four decades. He was sometimes called "the American Byron"...
expressed surprise that his portrait was not finished, Cheney said, “I will finish it,” whereupon he put his foot through it.
He died in South Manchester, Connecticut.
Family
He was the brother of Ward CheneyWard Cheney
Ward Cheney was a pioneer manufacturer of silk fabrics.-Biography:Ward Cheney was principal founder of the house of Cheney Brothers, and was most active in its business management. He first engaged in the dry-goods business in Providence, Rhode Island, with his brother Charles...
, a prominent silk manufacturer of South Manchester. He was married twice first in September 1847 to Emily Woodbridge Pitkin, daughter of Horace Pitkin and Emily Woodbridge. His wife, Emily, died without issue in 1850. Three years later on 19 May 1853 he married Ednah Dow Littlehale
Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney
Ednah Dow Littlehale Cheney was a writer, reformer, and philanthropist, born on Beacon Hill, Boston to Sargent Smith Littledale and Ednah Parker . She was educated in private schools in Boston. She was secretary of the School of Design for Women from 1851 till 1854.She married portrait artist Seth...
, daughter of Sargent Smith Littledale and Ednah Parker (Dow). This marriage produced one child: Margaret Swan Cheney (8 September 1855 – 22 September 1882) His memoirs were published by Ednah, his second wife, in 1881.
Further reading
- Obituary. New York Times. September 12, 1856.
- Ednah Dow Littlehale CheneyEdnah Dow Littlehale CheneyEdnah Dow Littlehale Cheney was a writer, reformer, and philanthropist, born on Beacon Hill, Boston to Sargent Smith Littledale and Ednah Parker . She was educated in private schools in Boston. She was secretary of the School of Design for Women from 1851 till 1854.She married portrait artist Seth...
. Memoir of Seth W. Cheney, artist. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1881 - Samuel L. Gerry. Old Masters of Boston. New England Magazine, v.3, no.6, Feb. 1891.
- Sylvester Rosa KoehlerSylvester Rosa KoehlerSylvester Rosa Koehler was an author, and the first curator of prints at the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston....
. Catalogue of the engraved and lithographed work of John Cheney and Seth Wells Cheney. Boston: Lee and Shepard, 1891 - "Seth Wells Cheney." Artists in Ohio, 1787-1900: a biographical dictionary, 3rd ed. Kent State University Press, 2000.