Thomas Hovenden : his life and art

293 Pages·2006·79.432 MB·English

by  Hovenden, Thomas, Scanlan, Patricia Smith, Hovenden, Thomas, Terhune, Anne Gregory

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Thomas Hovenden
15827-Thomas Hovenden 5/18/06 2:32 PM Page ii
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Thomas Hovenden
His Life and Art
A N N E G R E G O RY T E R H U N E
With Patricia Smith Scanlan
Foreword by Elizabeth Johns
A BARRA FOUNDATION BOOK
UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA PRESS
Philadelphia
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Copyright © 2006The Barra Foundation,Inc.
All rights reserved
Printed in Canada on acid-free paper
10 9 8 7 6 5 4 3 2 1
Published by
University ofPennsylvania Press
Philadelphia,Pennsylvania19104-4112
Library ofCongress Cataloging-in-Publication Data
Terhune,Anne Gregory.
Thomas Hovenden :his life and art / Anne Gregory
Terhune with Patricia Smith Scanlan;foreword by
Elizabeth Johns.
p. cm.
“A Barra Foundation book.”
Includes bibliographical references and index.
ISBN-13: 978-0-8122-3920-1(alk.paper)
ISBN-10: 0-8122-3920-2(cloth :alk.paper)
1. Hovenden,Thomas,1840‒1895. 2.Painters—
United States—Biography. 3. Genre painting,
American—19th century. I.Scanlan,Patricia Smith.
II.Title.
ND237.H777T47 2005
759.13B 22
2005045658
Text design by George Lang
Frontispiece:The Old Book Salesman,1881.Oil on canvas,
19x 15in.Private collection.
Page xii:The Poacher’s Story(also known as Hunter’s Tale,
Brittany),1880.Watercolor and gouache on paper,14(cid:2)
171⁄4in.Allison Gallery,New York.
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CONTENTS
Publisher’s Note vii
List of Illustrations ix
Foreword,Elizabeth Johns xiii
Chapter .Becoming an Artist 
Chapter .From “Picturesque” Brittany to Paris:
Painting Courage and Romance in History and Legend 
Chapter .“What Shall American Artists Paint?” 
Chapter .Painting the “Good Ole Times”: Scenes ofAfrican American Life 
Chapter .Images to “Appeal to the National Mind” 
Chapter .Home Life: Center of“Our Joys or Sorrows” 
Conclusion 
Notes 
Index 
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PUBLISHER’S NOTE
Thomas Hovenden:His Life and Artwould not have not in a position to carry out the final revisions.
been possible without the persistence and gener- Mr.Robert L.McNeil,Jr.,of the Barra Founda-
ous support of the Barra Foundation.Anne Gre- tion suggested that the Foundation find a scholar
gory Terhune submitted a draft of this book to to make the required revisions so that the book
the University of Pennsylvania Press in 1994, could be published.Anne Terhune was able to
when it was approved for publication contingent approve this arrangement before her death in
on acceptance of a revised manuscript.Owing 2005,and Patricia Smith Scanlan of Indiana
to declining health,however,Anne Terhune was University revised the final manuscript.
1155882277--TThhoommaass HHoovveennddeenn 55//1188//0066 22::3322 PPMM PPaaggee vviiii
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ILLUSTRATIONS
All works are by Thomas Hovenden unless noted otherwise.
The Old Book Salesman,1881. ii 19.Self-Portrait of the Artist in His Studio,
26
The Poacher’s Story,1880. xii 1875.
28
1.Thomas Hovenden,ca.1890. xvi 20.Study of a Bearded Man,ca.1874–75.
2.Broadway Near Grand Street,New York City, 21.Alexandre Cabanel,Othello Relating
2 29
1860. His Adventures,1857.
3.Artist unknown,Picture-Gallery of the Fair, 22.Alexandre Cabanel,The Choir Director’s
4 30
Fourteenth-Street Building,1864. Widow(La veuve du maître de chapelle).
4.Artist unknown,Funeral Honors to President 23.Artists in Front of Gloanec Pension,ca.
5 32
Lincoln,1865. 1876–80.
6
5.Venus de Milo,ca.1860–63. 24.William Lamb Picknell,Road to Concarneau,
33
6.Engraving of Hovenden’s The Old Nurse’s 1880.
8
Visit,1873. 25.Robert Wylie,A Fortune Teller of Brittany,
35
7.Engraving of Hovenden’s A Home 1871–72.
10 36
Missionary. 26.Robert Wylie,The Postman,1868.
11 37
8.In the Woods,ca.1873. 27.A Sunny Day in Brittany,1876.
38
9.Winslow Homer,The Initials, 28.The Image Seller,1876.
12 39
1864. 29.A Brittany Image Seller,1878.
13
10.Self-Portrait,ca.1873. 30.Church near Pont-Aven from Finistère,
15 40
11.Lady Tending Flowers,1873. 1878.
12.Eastman Johnson,Catching the Bee, 31.Detail of Church near Pont-Aven from
16 41
1872. Finistère.
17
13.A Reverie,1873. 32.Study for A Brittany Peasant Girl(also known
14.Eastman Johnson,Not at Home, as What O’Clock Is It?),1876. 42
1872–80. 18 33.The Path to the Spring,1879. 44
15.Alexandre Cabanel,Birth of Venus, 34.Thomas Hovenden painting in the Bois
1863. 22 d’Amour,Pont-Aven,1880. 45
16.Alexandre Cabanel,Study,Triumph of Flora, 35.Breton Woman Blowing the Dinner Horn,
1870–72. 23 n.d. 46
17.Photograph of lodging on the Seine’s left 36.Pendant le Repos,1878. 47
bank at 15rue Jacob. 24 37.One Who Can Read,1877. 48
18.Study of an Old Lady,ca.1874–75. 25 38.Vendéan Soldier,ca.1877. 51