biography of Thomas Clarkson OLIVER (1827-1893)

Birth place: Lynn MA

Death place: Amesbury, MA.

Addresses: Lynn, MA

Profession: Marine painter

Studied: Wm. Bradford, 1860s

Exhibited: Lynn AA, 1880 (prize); Boston AC, 1881-90; S.A. Barton Gal., Lynn, 1882; Lynn GAR Exh., 1887; W.C. Robinson Gal., Lynn, 1888

Work: Kendall Whaling Mus., Sharon, MA

Comments: Known for his luminous marines painted around Gloucester and Lynn, MA. He began in the shoe-manufacturing industry, and by 1860 he was foreman of the family-owned business. "Clark" as he was known familiarly, began painting before 1863, and had a studio near Buffum. He painted in colors but produced to black-and-white studies later in his career. Many of his works were reproduced as chromolithographs by Prang & Co., Boston.

Sources: Rediscovered Artists of Essex County (1865-1915) (exh. cat., Salem, MA: Essex Institute, 1971); add. info courtesy Selma Koss Holtz, Waban, MA; D. Roger Howlett, The Lynn Beach Painters (Lynn Hist. Soc., 1998); Brewington, 283; The Boston AC.