John George Brown (November 11, 1831 – February 8, 1913), One of America’s most popular genre painters was a British citizen. He loved depicting children and painted American youth. Brown became famous for his depictions of street urchins found on the streets of New York.
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John George Brown Biography
He was born in Durham, England on November 11, 1831. As a teenager, he started his apprentice as a glass worker. His parents didn’t want him to pursue painting as a career. He attended night school at the School of Design in Newcastle-on-Tyne between 1849 and 1852 and evenings at the Trustees Academy in Edinburgh.
In 1853 he moved to New York City where he was mentored by Thomas Seir Cummings at the National Academy of Design. In 1861 he was elected a National Academician. During the time between 1899 to 1904, he was the Academy’s vice-president.
Early Life Of John George Brown
Brown married the daughter of his employer of a glass factory. He was encouraged and financially supported by his father-in-law to enhance his artistic abilities and become a full-time painter.
In 1862 he was made an Associate member of the National Academy, and a year later he gained full membership. In 1866, Brown positioned himself as charter members of the Water-Color Society and later on from 1887 to 1904 he was elected as the president of the society. In 1913 he died from pneumonia in New York City, on February 8.
Style Of Painting Of John George Brown
Brown’s art is best characterized as British genre paintings adapted to American subjects. Brown’s paintings are essentially literary and were executed with precise detail, but they are criticized for its poor color.
He gained fame for his paintings of the young boys who sold newspapers and shined shoes on the streets of New York. He beautifully captured their mixture of sprightly innocence and preternatural shrewdness.
Brown falsified his subjects as always happy and healthy with just a touch of grime for cosmetics. Brown’s financial success allowed him to paint country landscape paintings for pleasure.
Paintings OF John George Brown
- The monopolist,1885
- The buttonhole posy,1894
- Swinging on a gate,1878
- Eyeing the fruit stand,1884
- Business neglected,1884
- Music hath no charms,1907
- The Foundling,1907
- Portrait of Mrs. Gibson,1907
- The Foundling
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