biography of Edward Caledon BRUCE (1825-1901)

Birth place: Winchester, VA

Death place: Winchester, VA

Addresses: Richmond, VA; Charlestown, West VA

Profession: Portrait and genre painter

Studied: With Thomas Sully and George M. Dallas

Exhibited: American Art-Union (1849)

Comments: Active c. 1840-77. He was the son of a successful businessman, who came to the U.S. from Scotland. Edward became deaf from scarlet fever at age fourteen. During the 1840's Bruce was working in Richmond, VA and later became the owner of the Winchester Virginian. In 1849 he exhibited, without address, at the American Art-Union. He married the daughter of artist William James Hubbard in 1854 and lived in Charlestown (West Va.) from 1854-57. There he worked as a writer and illustrator, contributing to Harper's and Lippincott's. During the 1860's he was again at Richmond, and from 1875 to 1877 again at Charlestown, finally returning to Winchester and working as the editor of his newspaper.

Sources: G&W; Info. courtesy of Mrs. Ralph Cartterall, Valentine Museum; Cowdrey, AA & AAU; Willis, Jefferson County Portraits;" Wright, Artists in Virgina Before 1900.

Legals