biography of William Rickarby MILLER (1818-1893)

Birth place: Staindrop, County Durham, England

Death place: Bronx, NYC

Addresses: NYC

Profession: Landscape, still life, and portrait painter

Studied: probably with his father, Joseph Miller, in England

Exhibited: NAD,1853-76; Brooklyn AA, 1868-82; Am.-Art Union

Member: Woodstock AA

Work: NYHS (includes some pencil and wash portraits)

Comments: Son of English painter Joseph Miller (see entry). After sketching and painting for about eight years in England, William emigrated to America in the winter of 1844-45. Except for a brief stay in Buffalo soon after his arrival, he settled in NYC, working as a portraitist, but traveled extensively in the Eastern U.S. searching out landscape subjects. He produced hundreds of American views in watercolors (a medium with which he was particularly adept) and oils, as well as many illustrations for books and periodicals. His still lifes ranged from apples (1860s) to pineapples (1880s); however, from 1873-on he was chiefly occupied in making pen-and-ink sketches for his projected 1,000 Gems of American landscape, which was never published.

Sources: G&W; Carlock, William Rickarby Miller (1818-1893)"; Shelley, "Addendum: William R. Miller"; Cowdrey, NAD; Naylor, NAD; Cowdrey, AA & AAU; Shelley, "William R. Miller, Forgotten 19th Century Artist;" NYHS, Catalogue, 1974 (cat. nos. 1004, 1005, 1413, 2358, 2359); Pisano, The Long Island Landscape, n.p.; For Beauty and for Truth, 78 (w/repro.); Woodstock AA; 300 Years of American Art, vol. 1, 183"