Jean Leon Gerome Ferris facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris
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The First Thanksgiving 1621
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| Born | August 8, 1863 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Died | March 18, 1930 (aged 66) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
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| Nationality | American |
| Education | Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts |
| Known for | Painting |
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris (born August 8, 1863 – died March 18, 1930) was an American painter. He is famous for his series of 78 paintings about American history. This collection was called The Pageant of a Nation. It is the largest series of American historical paintings by one artist.
Contents
Early Life and Art Training
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His father, Stephen James Ferris, was also a portrait painter. Stephen Ferris admired a French painter named Jean-Léon Gérôme. He even named his son after him.
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris grew up surrounded by art. His father taught him how to paint. His uncles, Edward Moran and Thomas Moran, were also well-known painters.
In 1879, Ferris started studying at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. Later, in 1883, he went to the Académie Julian in Paris. There, he studied with a famous artist named William-Adolphe Bouguereau. He also met Jean-Léon Gérôme, the painter he was named after. Gérôme told him to paint what he knew best. This inspired Ferris to paint scenes from American history.
Ferris's Painting Career
When Ferris was young, a style called Orientalism was popular. His early paintings were in this style. In 1882, he showed a painting called Feeding the Ibis. It was valued at $600.
By 1895, Ferris was known for his historical paintings. He began his dream project: creating a series of paintings that told a story about history.
In 1898, he sold a painting called General Howe's Levee, 1777. But he soon realized that his historical series would not be complete if the paintings were separated. So, he decided not to sell any more of the original paintings.
Instead, he sold the rights to reproduce his artwork. Publishing companies made prints, postcards, and calendars of his paintings. This made his art very popular. People could even find laminated cards of his works as late as 1984.
Personal Life
Jean Leon Gerome Ferris married Annette Amelia Ryder in 1894. They had one daughter, named Elizabeth Mary. Ferris passed away in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1930. He was 66 years old.
The Legacy of His Art
Ferris's paintings showed famous moments from American history. They often presented an ideal, or perfect, view of these events.
The complete series of his paintings was displayed at Independence Hall in Philadelphia. This was from 1913 to 1930. After that, the collection moved to Congress Hall next door. Over the years, the paintings were shown in many places, including the Smithsonian Institution. Eventually, they were returned to the Ferris family.
For many years, Ferris's works were very popular. However, art critics today have different opinions. Some say his paintings are very accurate in details like clothing and ships. But they also describe the paintings as "dry" or "monotonous" in how they were made.
See also
In Spanish: Jean Leon Gerome Ferris para niños
