Lexington, Kentucky Artists 1788-1871

Mr. Beck, erroneously mentioned in Dunlap’s Arts of Design as "the first painter who penetrated beyond the Alleghanies," settled in Lexington about the year 1800. He belonged, at one time, to a company of scouts under General Anthony Wayne. He and his wife conducted a female seminary in this city for many years, in which painting was a prominent feature. Mr. And Mrs. Beck were both artists of some ability, and painted many pictures, principally landscapes. W. Mentelle, S.D. McCulough, John Tilford, Mrs. Thomas Clay, and many others own pictures by Beck. Mr. Beck died in 1814. His wife survived until 1833.

In 1818, John Neagle, afterward known as the painter of "Pat Lyon the Blacksmith," visited Lexington with the intention of settling, but he found Jouett so far his superior that he left and settled in Philadelphia. He came to this city again in 1844, at the instance of the Whigs of Philadelphia, to paint for them a full length portrait of Henry Clay, which he did, Mr. Clay sitting for him at the Phoenix Hotel. In November of that year, he presented to Daviess Lodge, of this city, a portrait of Colonel Joseph H. Daviess, from the original by Jouett. The picture is now owned by Major S.D. McCullough.

Chester Harding, a native of Montgomery county, Kentucky, and who afterward acquired a national reputation, painted some excellent portraits here in 1819. Mrs. H.J. Bodley, Mrs. Wm. Preston, Mrs. Woodward, Mrs. A.H. Woolley, and others have pictures by him. Harding’s studio was in "Higgins Block."

Louis Morgan, a native of Pittsburg, settled in Lexington in 1830, and remained here for many years. He painted pictures which evinced a very high order of talent, and it was only the lack of energy that prevented him from becoming noted. His best effort is his well-known portrait of Simon Kenton from life. He was gifted with exquisite taste and remarkable feeling for color. He died about the year 1860. Dr. Robert Peter owns some of his pictures.

The greatest painter that Kentucky has yet produced, and one whose name has shed no little lustre upon the art annals of America, was Matthew H. Jouett. He was born near Lexington, in 1783, and educated for the bar. After participating in the war of 1812, he returned to Lexington, where he attempted to practice law, but being devoted to art, and rendered dissatisfied by the aspirations of his genius, he abandoned his profession, and in 1817 went to Boston and studied under the noted Gilbert Stuart. In less than five years from that time, he was celebrated as the best portrait painter west of the Alleghany mountains. His studio in Lexington, was first in a two-story brick building, which formerly stood on Short street, between the Northern Bank and the residence of the late D.A. Sayre. Subsequently he used a room above the first National Bank on the same street. Among his best pictures are those of Henry Clay, Joseph H. Daviess, Dr. Holley, Major Morrison, Governor Letcher, John J. Crittenden, Isaac Shelby, and the full length portrait of the Marquis Lafayette, now owned by the State of Kentucky. Mr. Jouett died in Lexington, August 10, 1827, having just returned from a professional trip to the South. Mr. Jouett was tall and thin of form, gifted with great taste, rare humor, and splendid conversational powers, and his literary and social culture was only second to his great artistic genius. Nearly half a century has elapsed since Jouett’s death, but his superior as a portrait painter has never arisen in the West.

Oliver Frazer, another artist-son of Lexington, was born February 4, 1808, and studied for several years under Jouett. After the death of his distinguished instructor, Mr. Frazer, in company with George P. Healy, went to Europe, where he remained for four years, studying the great works of old masters. On his return, he married Miss Martha, daughter of Dr. Alexander Mitchell, of Frankfort, and achieved flattering success as a portrait painter. He died April 9, 1854, and was buried in the Lexington Cemetery. Unfortunately, his eyesight became injured some years before his death, which prevented him from being a prolific painter, but the few productions of his pencil are of rare merit. His portrait of Clay, and a family group in the possession of Mrs. Frazer, are considered among his best efforts. Mr. Clay spoke in the strongest terms of satisfaction of his portrait by Frazer, who received a number of orders for copies of it. Others of Mr. Frazer’s pictures are owned by Major Lewinski, F.K. Hunt, Mrs. M.T. Scott, Wm. Warfield, Judge Robertson, Mrs. W.A. Dudley, J.S. Wilson, Mrs. A.K. Woolley, J.J. Hunter, and others, and are characterized by their delicate coloring and accurate delineation. Another has well said that Mr. Frazer was a true artist, and loved his profession for its own sake. He was honest, kind, and true, and was devoted to the retirement of his happy home. He was greatly gifted in conversation, well read in the best art and other literature, and his taste was exceedingly delicate and correct.

Another artist, Joseph H. Bush, made Lexington his home for many years. Mr. Bush was born in Frankfort, Kentucky, in 1794, and was the son of Philip and Elizabeth Bush. At the age of eighteen, he went to Philadelphia, under the care of Mr. Clay, and remained there three years, studying under the celebrated artist, Sully, after which he pursued his profession in New Orleans, Vicksburg, Louisville, and Lexington, and attained an enviable distinction. How skillfully he handled his pencil is evident in the reputation of his full-length portrait of General Zachary Taylor, and the coloring and the beautiful effect of light and shade in his portraits of Dr. Ben Dudley, Mrs. Fanny Bullitt, and the rest of his numerous productions. Mr. Bush died in Lexington, January 11, 1865, only a few months after the decease of his fellow-artist, Oliver Frazer.

Mr. Bush was a man of deep religious feelings, and extensive reading and culture, and was most genial and companionable with those he knew well. His studio was in an upper room over Sayre's banking house, corner of Mill and Short.

In 1867, Mr. Alexander painted some fine pictures in Lexington, one of General John C. Breckinridge, and another of Judge W.B. Kinkead, being among the number.

Since Jouett's time, a number of artists have either sojourned in Lexington temporarily, or made it their home. John Grimes, who excelled in delicate forms and colors, painted here, for several years anterior to 1832, at which time he died in Lexington, and was buried in the Episcopal Cemetery. His studio was in the building on Main street, now occupied by Mr. Thomas Bradley. Several of his productions are in the possession of his aunt, Mrs. Thos. Grant, and Mrs. Fannie Dewees and J.J. Hunter each have one.

The well-known miniature engravings of Clay and Jackson are from original portraits by Dodge, who resided for some time in Lexington.

J.H. Beard, the American Landseer, during a visit to Lexington, painted portraits of the late Robert Alexander, Colonel W.S. Price, and one or two others.

William Ver Bryck, who has since attained much celebrity, executed some very fine portraits in this city, in 1868, one of Mrs. Dr. Whitney, one each of Mr. And Mrs. John Carty, and portraits of several members of Dr. H. M. Skillman, and Mr. Isaac Scott's families. No visiting artist ever met with as much success in Lexington as Mr. Ver Bryck. His studio was in the Phoenix Hotel. He came to Lexington from the city of New York.

Mr. B.F. Rineheart, in 1869, had a temporary studio in the present Library building, and painted in very superior style, portraits of General John C. Breckinridge, General John H. Morgan, Mrs. Basil Duke, Dr. and Mrs. Warren Frazer, Mr. Thos. Mitchell, and others. His chief excellences are fine modeling and coloring. Mr. Rhineheart is a native of Ohio.

Mr. E. Troye, who was born in England, but has long been a resident of New York, has painted a number of fine animal pictures. Some of his best efforts--pictures of blood horses--are in the possession of Messrs. J.A. Grinstead, A.K. Richards, A. Buford, M. Alexander, of Woodford, and others. As an animal painter, Mr. Troye has no superior in this country. He has, as yet, attempted but few composition pictures, the "Dead Sea" being one of them.

General W.S. Price is one of the most promising resident painters Lexington has had since Jouett. He is a son of the late Daniel B. Price, of Nicholasville, Ky., and was a pupil of the lamented Oliver Frazer. His first effort, made at the age of seventeen, was a portrait of "Old King Solomon," the unterrified grave-digger during the cholera of '33, and long one of the "institutions of Lexington. This picture merits the celebrity it has attained. Another early picture is a fine portrait of Postmaster Ficklin. The portrait of President Fillmore, in the Phoenix Hotel dining-room, is by Price, and was painted in 1855. One of his most successful efforts is a large picture of General George H. Thomas, which has become extensively known. Mr. Price has received letters highly complimenting his work from both Mr. Fillmore and General Thomas. A striking likeness of Judge Robertson must not be forgotten. Latterly, General Price has attempted composition pictures, and with marked success. The "Night before the Battle of Chickamauga," the "Young Artist," and "Caught Napping," indicates the latitude, as well as the superiority of his talents. He has reflected honor upon the art history of his state. His studio is in the second story of the Post-office building, on the corner of Mill and Short streets.

Mrs. Eliza Brown, widow of Professor John Brown, of Transylvania University, who died in 1855, has painted a number of beautiful landscapes, the merit of which is heightened by the fact that Mrs. Brown commenced with the pencil at a time of life when art efforts generally cease. A Rhineland scene, the "Yosemite Valley," a Canadian landscape and an exquisite bit of Minnesota rock and water, are worthy of special mention. Mrs. Brown, who is now nearly seventy, attempted a few months ago, and for the first time, portrait painting, and with extraordinary success, considering her age. Her residence and studio is on the corner of Short and Upper Streets.

Mr. Stuart, a South Carolinian, but now resident of St. Louis, painted some excellent portraits in this city last spring; one each of Mrs. Rosa Jeffrey, Mr. Cooper, city Librarian, and R.A. Buckner, Sen., deceased.

Transcribed by pb, December 1999