James Sullivan Lincoln
| James Sullivan Lincoln | |
|---|---|
| Born |
May 13, 1811 Taunton, Massachusetts |
| Died | January 18, 1888 (aged 76) Providence, Rhode Island |
| Resting place | Swan Point Cemetery |
| Known for | Portraits |
| Spouse(s) | Rosina Child Chase |
| Elected | First president of Providence Art Club, 1880. |
James Sullivan Lincoln (May 13, 1811 – January 18, 1888) was a noted portrait painter based in Providence, Rhode Island. He has been called the "father of Rhode Island art" and the "father of art in Providence." His works include eleven portraits of governors of Rhode Island, displayed at the State House, and six portraits of mayors which hang in the Providence City Hall.
James Sullivan Lincoln was born in Taunton, Massachusetts, to Sullivan and Keziah (Weston) Lincoln. He was the oldest of six children. His father was a miller and farmer.
At age ten, the family moved to Providence, Rhode Island. Lincoln's father died when James was fourteen. Needing to earn money to support the family, James went to work for an engraving company in downtown Providence. Lincoln's job was to make the drawings for the engravings; his skill a drawing caught the attention of nearby artist C.T. Hinckley, who trained the boy in the art of painting. Within two years, James was able to copy famous paitings such as Gilbert Stuart's portrait of George Washington, which hung in the Rhode Island State House.
His painting career began in 1832.
One of Lincoln's earliest clients (when he was age 25) was wealthy Pawtucket industrialist Samuel Slater, who had been dissatisfied with an earlier portrait by another painter. Lincoln's portrait proved so popular that he made several copies, including one for Brown University (deaccessioned in 1980).
Lincoln's mentor Hinckley moved away from Providence, leaving the field open for his protege to open his own studio on South Main Street, in the heart of the city at Market Square. He ran this studio for sixty years, soon becoming the pre-eminent portrait painter in Rhode Island.
In 1880, Lincoln was elected first president of the Providence Art Club.
...
Wikipedia