biography of Frederick Stone BATCHELLER (1837-1889)

Birth place: Providence, RI

Death place: Providence

Addresses: Providence, RI

Profession: Still life and landscape painter, sculptor

Studied: Apprenticed with Tingley Brothers marble carvers

Exhibited: NAD, 1883; Providence Art Club, 1889 (mem. exhib.)

Member: Providence AC

Work: Providence AC; Rhode Island Hist. Soc.; RISD; Rhode Island State House

Comments: Started as a marble cutter in Providence and later produced a few marble busts. From 1855, however, he devoted his career to painting, achieving recognition and respect for his still lifes. He is best known as a fruit painter although he also painted flowers and was active as a portrait and landscape painter. Along with James Morgan Lewin, John N. Arnold, Thomas Robinson, and Marcus Waterman, he was one of the "Group of 1855" artists in Providence. George Whitaker dubbed him "the Romantic" for his melancholy moods and his habit of playing haunting melodies on his violin, locked alone in his studio.

Sources: G&W; Boston Transcript, March 18, 1889, obit.; Providence CD 1857, 1859-61, 1864-67; New England BD 1860; Gardner, Yankee Stonecutters; add'l info. courtesy of Elinor Nacheman, Pawtucket, RI; For Beauty and for Truth, 33; exh. cat., Painters of Rhode Island (Newport AM, 1986, p.16)