biography of Charles Loring ELLIOTT (1812-1868)

Birth place: Scipio, Cayuga County, NY

Death place: Albany, NY

Profession: Portrait painter

Studied: John Quidor (in NYC, by 1829)

Exhibited: NAD; Brooklyn AA, 1862-72; PAFA, 1863

Member: NA, 1846

Work: NAD (Henry Inman"); NGA; MMA; Corcoran Gal."

Comments: One of the leading American portrait painters of the mid 19th century. From c.1829-39, Elliot worked as an itinerant portrait painter throughout central New York State. Thereafter, he worked chiefly in NYC where he became very popular, succeeding Henry Inman (see entry) as the city's leading portraitist. Among his prominent sitters were William Cullen Bryant, James Fennimore Cooper, Erastus Corning, and W. W. Corcoran. While he aimed to faithfully capture individual character, his style was straightforward, non-decorative, and devoid of flattery.

Sources: G&W; info courtesy Theodore Bolton, who cites: Harper's Weekly (Sept. 12, 1868), obit.; C. E. L[ester], Charles Loring Elliot," Harper's New Monthly Magazine (Dec. 1868), 42-50; T. B. Thorpe, "Reminiscences of Charles L. Elliott, Artist," N. Y. Evening Post (Sept. 30 & Oct. 1, 1868); DAB; Tuckerman, 300-305; Cowdrey, NAD; Cowdrey, AA & AAU; Swan, BA; Rutledge, PA; Washington Art Assoc. Cat., 1857, 1859; Karolik Cat.; 7 Census (1850), N.Y., XLIV, 308; checklist of his work in Bolton, "Charles Loring Elliott." More recently, see 300 Years of American Art, Vol. 1, 152"