biography of John George BROWN (1831-1913)

Birth place: Durham, England

Death place: NYC

Addresses: Active in Brooklyn and NYC

Profession: Genre and landscape painter

Studied: With William B. Scott, in England; NAD, with Cummings.

Exhibited: Brooklyn, AA, 1851-91; NAD (frequently, beginning 1858-1900); PAFA, 1876, 1883, 1888, 1894; Boston AC, 1879, 1882, 1885, 1895; AIC; Boston Athenaeum; Paris Expo., 1889 (prize); Mechanics' Inst., Boston (medals); California, 1894 (med.); Pan-Am. Expo., Buffalo, 1901 (med.); Corcoran Gal., 1907-08

Member: ANA, 1861; NA, 1863; AWCS; A. Fund S.; SC; Century Assoc.

Work: BMFA; CGA; Detroit Mus. Art; MMA; Peabody Institute, Baltimore; other major museums.

Comments: He came to the U.S. in 1853. One of the most successful genre painters of the late 19th century, his paintings of cheery street urchins and shoeshine boys were especially popular, particularly among wealthy collectors. Financially successful from the early 1860s-on, the widely distributed lithographic reproductions of his paintings served to make him even wealthier. He was also an influential teacher at the NAD.

Sources: G&W; DAB; Brooklyn CD 1855-58; Cowdrey, NAD; Swan, BA; Clement and Hutton; Peters, America on Stone; repros. in Met. Mus., Life in America; Portfolio (May 1946); Art Digest (March 15, 1945); American Collector (May 1946); Panorama (May 1946); Davidson, Life in America; Corcoran Gallery, Handbook of American Paintings; and the Peabody Institute, List of Works. More recently, see Baigell, Dictionary; Campbell, New Hampshire Scenery, 21

Legals