biography of William D. MURPHY (1834-?)

Birth place: Madison County, AL

Profession: Portrait painter, photographer

Studied: Cumberland Univ.; Nashville, with W. Cooper.

Comments: After graduating from Cumberland University, Lebanon (TN), Murphy taught for a number of years and then became a photographer. He received his first instruction in painting from William Cooper of Nashville. Murphy continued to work as a photographer in several Southern cities until 1876 when he moved to Philadelphia. He moved to NYC in 1883 and four years later married an artist, Harriet Anderson (see Harriet Anderson Murphy). Together they painted portraits of many prominent men of the late 19th and early 20th century.

Sources: G&W; Fairman, Art and Artists of the Capitol, 460; Thieme-Becker; Fielding.