Xanthus Russell Smith
Encyclopedia
Xanthus Russell Smith was an American
marine painter best known for his illustrations of the American Civil War
.
, the son of painters William Thompson Russell Smith
and Mary Priscilla Wilson. Smith was educated at home by his mother, who also gave him drawing lessons. Between 1851 and 1852, he accompanied his parents and sister Mary on the family's tour of Europe. After returning home, he studied chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania
, before enrolling at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
. He served in the United States Navy
during the American Civil War
, helping to maintain the blockade of Charleston, South Carolina
. He saw little action, and sketched hundreds of ships in a variety of media, including pencil
and oil paint
, both for official purposes and for his own pleasure.
Smith did not actually participate in most of the battles he illustrated; instead, he generally consulted those who were present at the engagements. His first major work, The Monitor and the Merrimack — 1869, oil on canvas, 30 x 66 inches (76.2 x 167.6 cm.), Union League of Philadelphia — was critically acclaimed. It was followed by The Kearsarge and the Alabama — 1869, oil on canvas, 21 x 36 inches (53.3 x 91.4 cm.), Debra Force Fine Art, Inc., New York, NY.
His paintings were sometimes massive: Final Assault upon Fort Fisher, North Carolina — 1872–73, oil on canvas, 56 x 123-1/2 inches (142.2 x 313.7 cm.), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
— is more than 10 feet wide. A second version of The Kearsarge and the Alabama — 1875, oil on canvas, 56-1/2 x 96 inches (143.5 x 243.8 cm.), Union League of Philadelphia — is 8 feet wide, and was a popular attraction at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. A third version is much smaller — c. 1870, oil on canvas, 9-5/8 x 14-7/8 inches (24.4 x 37.8 cm.), Mariners' Museum
, Newport News, VA — as is a fourth version that was sold at auction in June 2008 — c. 1865-70, oil on canvas, 8.2 x 14.7 inches (20.8 x 37.3 cm.). He painted a fifth version in watercolor — 1892, 19-3/4 x 29-3/4 inches (50.2 x 75.6 cm.), Morris Museum of Art
, Augusta, GA — and a sixth version — 1922, oil on canvas, dimensions unknown — for former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt
. All six versions of The Kearsarge and the Alabama are unique compositions.
His father built a suburban villa, "Edgehill", in Glenside, Pennsylvania
, a couple miles outside of Philadelphia, that included a large artist's studio.In 1879, Smith married Mary Binder, the daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia lumber dealer. The Smiths settled at Edgehill, where they raised their three children, Mary Russell "Polly" (1880-1938), Xanthus Russell Jr. 1886-1961), and George Russell (1890-1943). Smith also maintained a studio at 1020 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for over thirty years, and painted until his death at age 90.
Smith's paintings and sketches were used to illustrate a large number of Civil War histories, including the 1926 biography he wrote of his former commanding officer, Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont
. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC possess examples of his work. Others are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
, the Columbus Museum of Art
, the Delaware Art Museum
, the Columbia Museum of Art
, and the Addison Gallery of American Art
. His unpublished autobiography
, An Unvarnished Tale, along with his family papers are preserved in the Archives of American Art
at the Smithsonian Institution
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
marine painter best known for his illustrations of 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...
.
Biography
Born in Philadelphia, PennsylvaniaPennsylvania
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is a U.S. state that is located in the Northeastern and Mid-Atlantic regions of the United States. The state borders Delaware and Maryland to the south, West Virginia to the southwest, Ohio to the west, New York and Ontario, Canada, to the north, and New Jersey to...
, the son of painters William Thompson Russell Smith
William Thompson Russell Smith
Russell Smith was a Scottish painter who produced iconic images of Pennsylvania’s landscape inspired by the aesthetic of the Hudson River School.-Biography:...
and Mary Priscilla Wilson. Smith was educated at home by his mother, who also gave him drawing lessons. Between 1851 and 1852, he accompanied his parents and sister Mary on the family's tour of Europe. After returning home, he studied chemistry at the University of Pennsylvania
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, before enrolling at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
. He served in the United States Navy
United States Navy
The United States Navy is the naval warfare service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the seven uniformed services of the United States. The U.S. Navy is the largest in the world; its battle fleet tonnage is greater than that of the next 13 largest navies combined. The U.S...
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...
, helping to maintain the blockade of Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston, South Carolina
Charleston is the second largest city in the U.S. state of South Carolina. It was made the county seat of Charleston County in 1901 when Charleston County was founded. The city's original name was Charles Towne in 1670, and it moved to its present location from a location on the west bank of the...
. He saw little action, and sketched hundreds of ships in a variety of media, including pencil
Pencil
A pencil is a writing implement or art medium usually constructed of a narrow, solid pigment core inside a protective casing. The case prevents the core from breaking, and also from marking the user’s hand during use....
and oil paint
Oil paint
Oil paint is a type of slow-drying paint that consists of particles of pigment suspended in a drying oil, commonly linseed oil. The viscosity of the paint may be modified by the addition of a solvent such as turpentine or white spirit, and varnish may be added to increase the glossiness of the...
, both for official purposes and for his own pleasure.
Smith did not actually participate in most of the battles he illustrated; instead, he generally consulted those who were present at the engagements. His first major work, The Monitor and the Merrimack — 1869, oil on canvas, 30 x 66 inches (76.2 x 167.6 cm.), Union League of Philadelphia — was critically acclaimed. It was followed by The Kearsarge and the Alabama — 1869, oil on canvas, 21 x 36 inches (53.3 x 91.4 cm.), Debra Force Fine Art, Inc., New York, NY.
His paintings were sometimes massive: Final Assault upon Fort Fisher, North Carolina — 1872–73, oil on canvas, 56 x 123-1/2 inches (142.2 x 313.7 cm.), Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
— is more than 10 feet wide. A second version of The Kearsarge and the Alabama — 1875, oil on canvas, 56-1/2 x 96 inches (143.5 x 243.8 cm.), Union League of Philadelphia — is 8 feet wide, and was a popular attraction at the 1876 Centennial Exposition. A third version is much smaller — c. 1870, oil on canvas, 9-5/8 x 14-7/8 inches (24.4 x 37.8 cm.), Mariners' Museum
Mariners' Museum
The Mariners' Museum is located in Newport News, Virginia. It is one of the largest maritime museums in the world as well as being the largest in North America.- History :The museum was founded in 1932 by Archer Milton Huntington, son of Collis P...
, Newport News, VA — as is a fourth version that was sold at auction in June 2008 — c. 1865-70, oil on canvas, 8.2 x 14.7 inches (20.8 x 37.3 cm.). He painted a fifth version in watercolor — 1892, 19-3/4 x 29-3/4 inches (50.2 x 75.6 cm.), Morris Museum of Art
Morris Museum of Art
The Morris Museum of Art in Augusta, Georgia was established in 1985 as a non-profit foundation by William S. Morris III, in memory of his parents, as the first museum dedicated to the collection and exhibition of art and artists of the American South....
, Augusta, GA — and a sixth version — 1922, oil on canvas, dimensions unknown — for former Assistant Secretary of the Navy Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
. All six versions of The Kearsarge and the Alabama are unique compositions.
His father built a suburban villa, "Edgehill", in Glenside, Pennsylvania
Glenside, Pennsylvania
Glenside is a census-designated place in Abington, Cheltenham, and Springfield townships, Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States. The population was 8,384 at the 2010 census...
, a couple miles outside of Philadelphia, that included a large artist's studio.In 1879, Smith married Mary Binder, the daughter of a wealthy Philadelphia lumber dealer. The Smiths settled at Edgehill, where they raised their three children, Mary Russell "Polly" (1880-1938), Xanthus Russell Jr. 1886-1961), and George Russell (1890-1943). Smith also maintained a studio at 1020 Chestnut Street in Philadelphia for over thirty years, and painted until his death at age 90.
Smith's paintings and sketches were used to illustrate a large number of Civil War histories, including the 1926 biography he wrote of his former commanding officer, Admiral Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis du Pont
Samuel Francis Du Pont was an American naval officer who achieved the rank of Rear Admiral in the United States Navy, and a member of the prominent Du Pont family; he was the only member of his generation to use a capital D...
. The U.S. Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland, and the U.S. Naval Historical Center in Washington, DC possess examples of his work. Others are in the collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
Museum of Fine Arts, Boston
The Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Massachusetts, is one of the largest museums in the United States, attracting over one million visitors a year. It contains over 450,000 works of art, making it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Americas...
, the Columbus Museum of Art
Columbus Museum of Art
The Columbus Museum of Art is an art museum located in downtown Columbus, Ohio. Formed in 1878 as the Columbus Gallery of Fine Arts, it was the first art museum to register its charter with the state of Ohio.-Building:...
, the Delaware Art Museum
Delaware Art Museum
The Delaware Art Museum is an art museum located on the Kentmere Parkway in Wilmington, Delaware, which holds a collection of more than 12,000 works. The museum, was founded in 1912 as the Wilmington Society of the Fine Arts in honor of the artist Howard Pyle and is now celebrating its centennial...
, the Columbia Museum of Art
Columbia Museum of Art
The Columbia Museum of Art in Columbia, South Carolina has a collection of European and American fine and decorative art that spans several centuries...
, and the Addison Gallery of American Art
Addison Gallery of American Art
The Addison Gallery of American Art, as a department of Phillips Academy, Andover, Massachusetts, is an academic museum dedicated to collecting American art...
. His unpublished autobiography
Autobiography
An autobiography is a book about the life of a person, written by that person.-Origin of the term:...
, An Unvarnished Tale, along with his family papers are preserved in the Archives of American Art
Archives of American Art
The Archives of American Art is the largest collection of primary resources documenting the history of the visual arts in the United States. More than 16 million items of original material are housed in the Archives' research centers in Washington, D.C...
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...
.
External links
- Cunard Steamer "Parthia" Leaving Boston Harbor (1871) from Cahoon Museum, Contuit, MA.
- Farragut Passing the Forts below New Orleans (1872) from Atwater Kent Museum, Philadelphia, PA.
- Tall Ships (1924) from David David Gallery, Philadelphia, PA.
- Landscape sketches from Harvard University Art Museum.
- Landscape sketches from Princeton University Art Museum.
- The Civil War Naval Scenes of Xanthus Smith from Independence Seaport Museum, Philadelphia, PA.
