William H. Machen
Encyclopedia
William Henry Machen was a painter and teacher.
William Henry Machen was born in Arnhem
, Holland. He was the oldest son of Augustine Ulysses Machen, a government-employed civil engineer, and Agatha Kuyke of Werkendam, Holland. His early education was by tutors. He also received art instruction from his uncle, C. W. Kuyke, a portrait painter
in Arnhem.
In 1847 Augustine, Agatha, son William, along with his four brothers and two sisters sailed from Rotterdam for America. Two sisters died en route and were buried at sea. The remaining family members arrived in New York in September. From there they made their way via the Hudson River to Albany, via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and finally across Lake Erie to Cleveland, where they stayed for the winter.
At the suggestion of Bishop Amadeus Rappe of Cleveland, Augustine and young William traveled on horseback to Toledo in February 1848 to inspect a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) farm at the town‘s edge. They soon purchased the land and in April the family settled in Toledo. Augustine’s brother, Henry P.L. Machen, and his wife, Wilhelmina, and their children also arrived and settled on the same land.
The farm setting gave William ample subjects for his paintings -- landscapes, game birds, animals, rivers and streams. He also painted portraits, religious subjects, still life, and local scenery. Most of his work was oil, but also water color, pencil sketches, and some pen and ink. Architectural design was not beyond his talents.
In 1861 William married Mary Ann Short of Buffalo, New York
. Together they had six sons and three daughters. Their oldest son later became Assistant Postmaster General
. Another son became a prominent Washington physician.
He exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Academy, the 1876 Centennial Exposition
in Philadelphia, and the Detroit Museum of Art.
But, although art was his profession, he was also an accomplished musician and composer. He served as organist and choir director for St. Francis de Sales church in Toledo for several years. He and his younger brother August also played in a local band.
He was gifted in other ways too. He was a naturalist by inclination and studied extensively in that area. He also was fluent in six languages, frequently serving as an interpreter.
In 1882 William and his family moved to Detroit where he taught art at Detroit College (later University of Detroit) and Sacred Heart Convent at Grosse Pointe
. He continued his prolific art work, including portraits, religious subjects, and a variety of others.
The artist and his family remained in Detroit for 12 years. He eventually moved to Washington, D.C.
in 1894. There he continued his painting, completing many portraits, still life, and scenes of nature.
He was a devout life-long Catholic. He died in Washington in 1911 at age 79. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Toledo.
In his lifetime William Machen completed more than 2700 oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sketches. He maintained a single register of his works which is now preserved in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution
in Washington.
William Henry Machen was born in Arnhem
Arnhem
Arnhem is a city and municipality, situated in the eastern part of the Netherlands. It is the capital of the province of Gelderland and located near the river Nederrijn as well as near the St. Jansbeek, which was the source of the city's development. Arnhem has 146,095 residents as one of the...
, Holland. He was the oldest son of Augustine Ulysses Machen, a government-employed civil engineer, and Agatha Kuyke of Werkendam, Holland. His early education was by tutors. He also received art instruction from his uncle, C. W. Kuyke, a portrait painter
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
in Arnhem.
In 1847 Augustine, Agatha, son William, along with his four brothers and two sisters sailed from Rotterdam for America. Two sisters died en route and were buried at sea. The remaining family members arrived in New York in September. From there they made their way via the Hudson River to Albany, via the Erie Canal to Buffalo, and finally across Lake Erie to Cleveland, where they stayed for the winter.
At the suggestion of Bishop Amadeus Rappe of Cleveland, Augustine and young William traveled on horseback to Toledo in February 1848 to inspect a 100 acre (0.404686 km²) farm at the town‘s edge. They soon purchased the land and in April the family settled in Toledo. Augustine’s brother, Henry P.L. Machen, and his wife, Wilhelmina, and their children also arrived and settled on the same land.
The farm setting gave William ample subjects for his paintings -- landscapes, game birds, animals, rivers and streams. He also painted portraits, religious subjects, still life, and local scenery. Most of his work was oil, but also water color, pencil sketches, and some pen and ink. Architectural design was not beyond his talents.
In 1861 William married Mary Ann Short of Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
. Together they had six sons and three daughters. Their oldest son later became Assistant Postmaster General
United States Postmaster General
The United States Postmaster General is the Chief Executive Officer of the United States Postal Service. The office, in one form or another, is older than both the United States Constitution and the United States Declaration of Independence...
. Another son became a prominent Washington physician.
He exhibited his work at the Pennsylvania Academy, the 1876 Centennial Exposition
Centennial Exposition
The Centennial International Exhibition of 1876, the first official World's Fair in the United States, was held in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, from May 10 to November 10, 1876, to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence in Philadelphia. It was officially...
in Philadelphia, and the Detroit Museum of Art.
But, although art was his profession, he was also an accomplished musician and composer. He served as organist and choir director for St. Francis de Sales church in Toledo for several years. He and his younger brother August also played in a local band.
He was gifted in other ways too. He was a naturalist by inclination and studied extensively in that area. He also was fluent in six languages, frequently serving as an interpreter.
In 1882 William and his family moved to Detroit where he taught art at Detroit College (later University of Detroit) and Sacred Heart Convent at Grosse Pointe
Grosse Pointe, Michigan
Grosse Pointe is a suburban city bordering Detroit in Wayne County in the U.S. state of Michigan. The city covers just over one square mile, and had a population of 5,421 at the 2010 census. It is bordered on the west by Grosse Pointe Park, on the north by Detroit, on the east by Grosse Pointe...
. He continued his prolific art work, including portraits, religious subjects, and a variety of others.
The artist and his family remained in Detroit for 12 years. He eventually moved to Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C.
Washington, D.C., formally the District of Columbia and commonly referred to as Washington, "the District", or simply D.C., is the capital of the United States. On July 16, 1790, the United States Congress approved the creation of a permanent national capital as permitted by the U.S. Constitution....
in 1894. There he continued his painting, completing many portraits, still life, and scenes of nature.
He was a devout life-long Catholic. He died in Washington in 1911 at age 79. He was buried in Calvary Cemetery in Toledo.
In his lifetime William Machen completed more than 2700 oil paintings, watercolors, drawings, and sketches. He maintained a single register of his works which is now preserved in the Archives of American Art at the Smithsonian Institution
Smithsonian Institution
The Smithsonian Institution is an educational and research institute and associated museum complex, administered and funded by the government of the United States and by funds from its endowment, contributions, and profits from its retail operations, concessions, licensing activities, and magazines...
in Washington.