Jeremiah Theus
| Jeremiah Theus | |
|---|---|
| Born |
Jeremiah Theüs April 5, 1716 Chur, Switzerland |
| Died | May 17, 1774 (aged 58) Charleston, South Carolina |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | unknown |
| Known for | Painting |
| Notable work |
in museums: |
| Movement | Rococo |
| Patron(s) | much of Charleston society |
in museums:
Jeremiah Theus (sometimes Jeremiah Theüs) (April 5, 1716 – May 17, 1774) was a Swiss-born American painter, primarily of portraits. He was active mainly around Charleston, South Carolina, in which city he remained almost without competition for the bulk of his career.
Theus was born in the city of Chur, in the Swiss canton of Graubünden, and was the eldest child of Simeon and Anna Walser Theüs. He was nineteen when he immigrated with his family to the Province of South Carolina, whose General Assembly had provided land grants and transport funds to encourage European Protestants to settle in the colony. Simeon Theüs was given 250 acres (1.0 km2) of land along the Edisto River in what was then Orangeburgh Township, today Orangeburg County.
By 1740, the younger Theus was in Charleston, advertising in the South Carolina Gazette:
Notice is hereby given, that Jeremiah Theus Limner is remov’d into the Market Square near Mr. John Laurans Sadler, where all Gentlemen and Ladies may have their Pictures drawn, likewise Landskips of all Sizes, Crests, and Coats of Arms for Coaches or Chaises. Likewise for the Conveniency of those who live in the Country, he is willing to wait on them at their respective Plantations.
He established his studio in a central location, the northeast corner of Broad and Meeting Streets. Just what degree of training he received is unknown; given that opportunities to study art were limited in Charleston at the time, however, it seems likely that he had received some training while he was still in Switzerland. Theus was twenty-eight in 1744, yet he already felt confident enough in his abilities to open an evening drawing school in his home.
Theus took on a variety of commissions during his early career, including painting and guilding the steeple of St. Michael's Episcopal Church in 1756, a job for which the congregation's commissioners paid him 77 pounds and 10 shillings for his labor and supplies. He also painted the weather vane, and contributed 50 pounds towards the building fund for a new structure; he later owned a pew in the church.
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