William A. Harper facts for kids
William A. Harper (1873 – 1910) was a talented artist. He was born in Canada and became famous for his landscape paintings. His art is displayed in important places like the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City and the National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C. Harper moved to Illinois in 1885. He studied art at the Art Institute of Chicago and later in Paris, France. His paintings often won awards and were shown in big art exhibitions.
Contents
Early Life and Learning
William Harper was born in a small village called Canfield, near Cayuga, Canada. His grandparents had escaped slavery. In 1885, when he was about 12, he moved to Illinois. He went to a special school in Jacksonville to prepare for college.
In 1895, Harper started studying at the Art Institute of Chicago (AIC). He worked as a janitor there to pay for his classes. During the summers, he worked and painted at the Eagle's Nest Art Colony in Illinois. Older artists at the Colony, like Lorado Taft and William Wendt, helped him learn. Harper finished his studies at the AIC in 1901 with high honors.
Art Career and Travels
After graduating in 1901, Harper took a job in Houston, Texas. He taught drawing in public schools there.
In 1903, he traveled to Europe. First, he painted with William Wendt in Cornwall, England. Later that year, Harper joined the Académie Julian in Paris, France. Many students from the AIC liked to study there. In Paris, he copied famous paintings at the Louvre Museum. He also explored and sketched the beautiful French countryside.
Painting in France
In the spring of 1904, Harper and Charles Francis Browne went south of Paris. They painted in the area of Barbizon. This place was famous for a group of artists who painted nature. By 1905, Harper was back in Chicago. He worked as a night watchman at the AIC to support his painting.
His paintings from England and France were shown in exhibitions starting in 1904. These artworks showed the influence of the Barbizon style. This style focused on painting landscapes directly from nature.
Awards and Recognition
After he graduated, Harper's paintings were often chosen for big art shows. These shows were held by the AIC and the Society of Western Artists. He was a member of the Society of Western Artists. He won the Municipal Art League prize in 1905. He also won the Young Fortnightly Club award in 1908.
Harper made a second trip to France in 1907. This time, he studied with Henry Ossawa Tanner. Tanner was a respected American artist living in France. Harper kept painting the French countryside. With Tanner's help, his art began to look more "impressionistic." This style uses small, visible brushstrokes to capture light and movement.
Later Life and Legacy
By 1908, Harper's health was not good. He moved to Cuernavaca, Mexico. He kept painting until he passed away in 1910. He died from a lung illness called tuberculosis. After his death, the AIC held a special show of sixty of his paintings. This was a very important event. It was likely the first major museum show for a Black artist in Chicago.
Where to See His Art
William A. Harper's paintings are in many museums and important collections. Here are some of them:
- Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York City
- National Museum of African American History in Washington, D.C.
- Columbus Museum, Columbus, Georgia
- National Gallery of Art, Washington, D.C.
- The DuSable Museum of African American History
- Flint Institute of Arts, Flint, Michigan
- Christine M. Schwartz Collection, Chicago, IL
- The Eagle's Nest Art Collection, Oregon Library, Oregon, Illinois
- The Harmon and Harriet Kelley Foundation for The Arts, San Antonio, Texas
External Links
For more detailed information on William A. Harper, see: Official Website: http://www.williamaharper.com/
