Earl Brewster
Encyclopedia
Earl Henry Brewster was an American painter, writer, and scholar, best known today for his close friendship with D.H. Lawrence, and for his compilation of the life of the Buddha, first published in 1926 and still in print. He was married to Achsah Barlow Brewster
, also an artist.
Brewster was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
, in 1878. After studying art at the Cleveland School of Art, he moved to New York, where he attended the Art Students League and the New York School of Art, working with William Merritt Chase and Frank Vincent Du Mond. While living in New York, Brewster exhibited his paintings at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Boston Art Club
, the Corcoran Gallery of Art
in Washington, D.C., and in New York City at the Society of American Artists
, "28th Annual Exhibition," the National Academy of Design
and the New York School of Art. One of his paintings, The Grey Harbor, was purchased by artist William Merritt Chase
; another was later acquired by the Hillyer Gallery at Smith College.
In 1904 a fellow art student, the poet Vachel Lindsay
, introduced Brewster to his future wife, Achsah Barlow, herself a painter, after noticing her resemblance to an imaginary portrait Earl had painted for a magazine cover. The two were married in 1910 and immediately moved to Italy. Except for a brief visit in 1923, they never again returned to the United States. Their daughter, Harwood, was born in Paris in 1912. The Brewsters spent nearly twenty years in southern Italy, with travels to Greece, France, Ceylon and India. After six years in southern France, they moved in 1935 to Crank's Ridge
in Almora
, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Earl and Achsah Brewster's art was influenced chiefly by the mural paintings of Puvis de Chavannes and the Italian primitive painters. Their work exhibits a wide-ranging spirituality, encompassing Christian, Buddhist and Hindu subjects. Earl painted mostly landscapes, portraits, and religious scenes, as well as some abstract works. During their years in Italy, the Brewsters exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Automne and the Societe des Artistes Independants. They also had shows at the Galerie Cheron and the Grand Palais in Paris, the Pincio Casino in Rome and with the Secessione in Rome. In 1923 they published L'oeuvre de E.H. et Achsah Barlow Brewster, which set forth their artistic principles, influences and goals. Earl's greatest artistic success came during his years in India, where more than a dozen of his paintings were purchased for public buildings. Copies of his statue of the Buddha were placed in several temples. In India their work was shown at the Indian Society of Oriental Art in Calcutta and at the Roerich
Centre of Art and Culture in Allahabad. More recently, the ACA Galleries in New York held exhibitions of their paintings in 2001 and 2007-08. In 2008 Earl's landscape, The Gulf of Salerno, was acquired by the Telfair Museum of Art
in Savannah, Ga.
The Brewsters were remarkable in numbering among their circle of friends many prominent artistic, literary and political figures, including D.H. Lawrence and Willa Cather
, both of whose writings they influenced, Elihu Vedder
, Vachel Lindsay and three generations of the Nehru family. The Brewsters and Lawrences met on Capri in 1921 and maintained a close friendship and frequent correspondence. Together Earl and Lawrence toured Etruscan sites and antiquities in 1927, which inspired Lawrence's
Etruscan Places. After Lawrence's death, the Brewsters compiled a book of his letters to them, with their memories of him. D.H. Lawrence: Reminiscences and Correspondence was published in 1934. In India they became part of a distinguised community that included the Nehru family, dancer Uday Shankar (brother of Ravi Shankar), mystics and intellectuals. In 1947 Earl Brewster was honored to accept an invitation to raise the Indian flag at a celebration in Almora of India's independence.
Earl was interested in both Eastern and Western philosophy and religion, and after an early involvement with Theosophy, he followed first Buddhism and then Vedanta Hinduism, subjects of his numerous articles. At the suggestion of the English Buddhist scholar Caroline Rhys Davids, he published in 1926 The Life of Gotama the Buddha (Complied Exclusively from the Pali Canon).
The personal correspondence of Earl and Achsah Brewster, as well as memoirs by Achsah Brewster and Harwood Brewster Picard, are housed at Drew University
, Madison, NJ.
Achsah Barlow Brewster
Achsah Barlow Brewster was an American painter and writer, and wife of artist Earl Brewster . They are best known today for their close friendship with such prominent figures of the time as D. H. Lawrence, Willa Cather and the Nehru family.Achsah Leona Barlow Brewster was born in 1878 in New...
, also an artist.
Brewster was born in Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Chagrin Falls, Ohio
Chagrin Falls is a village in Cuyahoga County, Ohio, United States. It is a suburb of Cleveland in the Northeast Ohio region, the 14th largest Combined Statistical Area nationwide. The village was established and has grown around a natural waterfall on the Chagrin River. As of the 2010 census,...
, in 1878. After studying art at the Cleveland School of Art, he moved to New York, where he attended the Art Students League and the New York School of Art, working with William Merritt Chase and Frank Vincent Du Mond. While living in New York, Brewster exhibited his paintings at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts, The Boston Art Club
Boston Art Club
The Boston Art Club, Boston, Massachusetts, for nearly 157 years, serves as a nexus for Members and non Members to access the world of Fine Art. Currently more than 250 members maintain an active environment for the support and promotion of these works....
, the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
in Washington, D.C., and in New York City at the Society of American Artists
Society of American Artists
The Society of American Artists was an American artists group. It was formed in 1877 by artists who felt the National Academy of Design did not adequately meet their needs, and was too conservative....
, "28th Annual Exhibition," the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
and the New York School of Art. One of his paintings, The Grey Harbor, was purchased by artist William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
; another was later acquired by the Hillyer Gallery at Smith College.
In 1904 a fellow art student, the poet Vachel Lindsay
Vachel Lindsay
Nicholas Vachel Lindsay was an American poet. He is considered the father of modern singing poetry, as he referred to it, in which verses are meant to be sung or chanted...
, introduced Brewster to his future wife, Achsah Barlow, herself a painter, after noticing her resemblance to an imaginary portrait Earl had painted for a magazine cover. The two were married in 1910 and immediately moved to Italy. Except for a brief visit in 1923, they never again returned to the United States. Their daughter, Harwood, was born in Paris in 1912. The Brewsters spent nearly twenty years in southern Italy, with travels to Greece, France, Ceylon and India. After six years in southern France, they moved in 1935 to Crank's Ridge
Crank's Ridge
Just outside the village of Kasar Devi is Crank’s Ridge, sometimes called Hippie Hill by children. It is a pine-covered ridge area located on the way to Kasar Devi temple, above the town of Almora, Uttarakhand, India, the ancient capital of Kumaon....
in Almora
Almora
Almora is a municipal board, a cantonment town in the Almora district in the state of Uttarakhand, India. Almora was founded in 1568.It is a town bustling with activity and a rich cultural heritage and history. It is considered the cultural heart of the Kumaon region of...
, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Earl and Achsah Brewster's art was influenced chiefly by the mural paintings of Puvis de Chavannes and the Italian primitive painters. Their work exhibits a wide-ranging spirituality, encompassing Christian, Buddhist and Hindu subjects. Earl painted mostly landscapes, portraits, and religious scenes, as well as some abstract works. During their years in Italy, the Brewsters exhibited regularly at the Salon d'Automne and the Societe des Artistes Independants. They also had shows at the Galerie Cheron and the Grand Palais in Paris, the Pincio Casino in Rome and with the Secessione in Rome. In 1923 they published L'oeuvre de E.H. et Achsah Barlow Brewster, which set forth their artistic principles, influences and goals. Earl's greatest artistic success came during his years in India, where more than a dozen of his paintings were purchased for public buildings. Copies of his statue of the Buddha were placed in several temples. In India their work was shown at the Indian Society of Oriental Art in Calcutta and at the Roerich
Roerich
Roerich may refer to:* Nicholas Roerich, Russian painter* Svetoslav Roerich, Russian painter, son of Nicholas Roerich* George de Roerich, Tibetologist, son of Nicholas Roerich* Helena Roerich, Russian writer, wife of Nicholas Roerich...
Centre of Art and Culture in Allahabad. More recently, the ACA Galleries in New York held exhibitions of their paintings in 2001 and 2007-08. In 2008 Earl's landscape, The Gulf of Salerno, was acquired by the Telfair Museum of Art
Telfair Museum of Art
The Telfair Museum of Art, located in the historic district of Savannah, Georgia, is the South’s first public art museum. Founded through the bequest of Mary Telfair , a prominent local citizen, the museum opened in 1886 in the Telfair family’s renovated Regency-style mansion, known as the Telfair...
in Savannah, Ga.
The Brewsters were remarkable in numbering among their circle of friends many prominent artistic, literary and political figures, including D.H. Lawrence and Willa Cather
Willa Cather
Willa Seibert Cather was an American author who achieved recognition for her novels of frontier life on the Great Plains, in works such as O Pioneers!, My Ántonia, and The Song of the Lark. In 1923 she was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours , a novel set during World War I...
, both of whose writings they influenced, Elihu Vedder
Elihu Vedder
Elihu Vedder was an American symbolist painter, book illustrator, and poet, born in New York City....
, Vachel Lindsay and three generations of the Nehru family. The Brewsters and Lawrences met on Capri in 1921 and maintained a close friendship and frequent correspondence. Together Earl and Lawrence toured Etruscan sites and antiquities in 1927, which inspired Lawrence's
Etruscan Places. After Lawrence's death, the Brewsters compiled a book of his letters to them, with their memories of him. D.H. Lawrence: Reminiscences and Correspondence was published in 1934. In India they became part of a distinguised community that included the Nehru family, dancer Uday Shankar (brother of Ravi Shankar), mystics and intellectuals. In 1947 Earl Brewster was honored to accept an invitation to raise the Indian flag at a celebration in Almora of India's independence.
Earl was interested in both Eastern and Western philosophy and religion, and after an early involvement with Theosophy, he followed first Buddhism and then Vedanta Hinduism, subjects of his numerous articles. At the suggestion of the English Buddhist scholar Caroline Rhys Davids, he published in 1926 The Life of Gotama the Buddha (Complied Exclusively from the Pali Canon).
The personal correspondence of Earl and Achsah Brewster, as well as memoirs by Achsah Brewster and Harwood Brewster Picard, are housed at Drew University
Drew University
Drew University is a private university located in Madison, New Jersey.Originally established as the Drew Theological Seminary in 1867, the university later expanded to include an undergraduate liberal arts college in 1928 and commenced a program of graduate studies in 1955...
, Madison, NJ.
Books/References
- Achsah and Earl Brewster. D. H. Lawrence: Reminiscences and Correspondence. Martin Secker, London, 1934.
- Earl H Brewster. The Life of Gotama the Buddha (Compiled Exclusively from the Pali Canon). Trubner's Oriental Series. London: Kegan Paul, 1926. ASIN: B001AFJL4A
- Earl H. Brewster and Achsah Barlow Brewster. L'oeuvre de E.H. Brewster et Achsah Barlow Brewster: 32 reproductions en phototypie precedees d'essais autobiographiques. Rome: Valori Plastici, 1923.
- Lucy Marks and David Porter. Seeking Life Whole: Willa Cather and the Brewsters. Madison, N.J.: Fairleigh Dickinson University Press, 2009.
- Mohindar Singh Randhawa. The Art of E.H. Brewster & Achsah Brewster. Kitabistan, 1944. ASIN: B0007K0ZWG
- The Divinity That Stirs Within Us. Exhibition catalog. New York: Borghi, 1992.
- Divine Pursuit: The Spiritual Journey of Achsah and Earl Brewster. Exhibition catalog. New York: ACA Galleries, 2007.