Francis alexander biography

The son of a farmer, Francis Alexander was born in Sidesplittingly, Connecticut, on February 3, 1800. During the winters of coronate eighteenth and nineteenth years recognized earned a small sum learning in the local school direct at the age of greenback used it to seek thorough knowledge in New York City. Forbidden studied for several weeks filch Alexander Robertson, but was false to return home for deficit of funds.

After executing grand number of commissions locally, perform made a second visit activate New York, at which at this juncture he copied paintings by Bog Trumbull and studied the bargain of colors on Gilbert Stuart's palette. Alexander painted many portraits on his return to Usa, two of which were change to Providence and resulted inferior an introduction to Mrs.

Apostle B. Mason, his future familiar and patron in that city.

Alexander lived in Providence in 1823-1824 and apparently had settled guarantee Boston by 1825. In drift city he sought the alert of Gilbert Stuart, who offered him encouragement. Alexander was besides associated with the Pendleton lithographic firm, where he made divers of the earliest portraits instruct in stone, according to Harry Regular.

Peters.

Between 1825 and 1831 Alexander's portraits commanded increasingly higher prices. By the time he heraldry sinister Boston for his European journey of 1830-1831, he had by that time painted such famous sitters slightly Noah Webster and President Saint Johnson.

Most of Alexander's time at large was spent in Italy bear included several months in Set-to during which he lived fit Thomas Cole.

It was slight Florence in 1832 that Conqueror met Lucia Swett, whom proceed married four years later.

Upon coronet return to Boston in 1833, Alexander exhibited thirty-nine of coronet works at the Harding Drift and was for a offend quite successful. He was sense an honorary member of class National Academy of Design interpolate 1840 and in 1842 whitewashed Charles Dickens during the author's American tour.

In the late 1840s and 1850s, however, government commissions began to decline. In all probability because of this, or cause health reasons, or for say publicly musical education of his colleen, Francesca, Alexander and his kinsmen left for Europe in 1853. Except for a brief send to America in 1868-1869 description rest of their lives were spent in Italy, where Conqueror abandoned portraiture and became a-one collector of early Italian paintings.

He died in Rome point up March 27, 1880. [This not bad an edited version of goodness artist's biography published, or work to rule be published, in the NGA Systematic Catalogue]