James Frothingham

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James Frothingham (1786-1864) [1] [2] was an American portrait painter in Massachusetts and New York.

Contents

[edit] Life and work

James Frothingham was born in Cambridge, Massachusetts.[1] In the Boston area, he studied as a student of Gilbert Stuart,[1] becoming a portraitist of talent,[2] and Stuart is quoted as having said of one of Frothingham's head portraits, "No man in Boston but myself can paint so good a head." [2] Frothingham was greatly helped by Gilbert Stuart's criticisms and encouragement, although initially his Nestor had advised him to adopt another, less precarious means of earning a livelihood.[2] There is a detailed portrait of Samuel Dexter, by Frothingham, in the Harvard Memorial Hall, in which Dexter, wearing a white wig and a red cloak atop a black coat, holds a book in his hand, and appears lost in meditation.[2] The flesh coloring in the painting is rather dry and parchment-like, but overall, the color is harmonious. Dunlap noted that heads depicted by James Frothingham were painted with great truth, freedom, and excellence.[2]

Frothingham would have been a local competitor to the younger Chester Harding (1792–1866), but in 1826, James Frothingham moved to Brooklyn in New York City.

[edit] See also

  • Francis Alexander (1800–1880) - American painter who moved to Boston.
  • John Burgum - ornamental painter, co-worker.
  • John Coles (1776/1780-1854) - portrait/heraldic painter, friend of James Frothingham, also studied under Gilbert Stuart.

[edit] Notes

  1. ^ a b c "Chester Harding (1792–1866)" (biography), Worcester Art, webpage: WorcArt-Harding.
  2. ^ a b c d e f "Boston Painters and Paintings" (article), The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 62, Issue 370, August 1888, p. 258, LOC webpage: LOC-AMonthly-Boston (notes Samuel Dexter portrait flesh tone; has Dunlap & Gilbert Stuart quote: "No man in Boston but myself can paint so good a head.").

[edit] References

  • "Chester Harding (1792–1866)" (biography), Worcester Art, webpage: WorcArt-Harding.
  • "Boston Painters and Paintings" (old article), The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 62, Issue 370, August 1888, LOC webpage: LOC-AMonthly-Boston.


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