William Simpson (portrait artist) facts for kids

Portrait of Bishop Jermain Wesley Loguen (1835) by William Simpson

William H. Simpson (born around 1818 – died 1872) was an important African American artist. He was also a civil rights activist in the 1800s. Simpson was especially known for painting amazing portraits of people.

Who Was William H. Simpson?

William Simpson was born around 1818 in Buffalo, New York. He grew up in an African American family. When he was young, he learned how to paint from Matthew Henry Wilson. Wilson was a British-American artist who painted portraits and tiny miniature pictures.

Simpson's Life as an Artist

In 1854, William Simpson moved to Boston. There, he became very famous for his portrait paintings. He painted many important people of his time.

One of his most famous portraits is of Jermain Wesley Loguen. Loguen was a former slave who became a bishop in the African Methodist Episcopal Church in New York. Simpson also painted Caroline Loguen, who was Jermain Loguen's wife.

Other important people he painted include Charles Sumner. Sumner was a statesman and a strong supporter of ending slavery. Simpson also painted John T. Hilton, who was an abolitionist, writer, and businessman.

Later Years and His Art Style

After 1866, Simpson moved back to Buffalo, New York. He also lived in other parts of the Northern United States and Canada. His painting style was influenced by European art. This was a common influence for many American artists back then.

Today, you can find William Simpson's artwork in public museums. For example, some of his paintings are part of the collection at Howard University Gallery of Art.