Frederic Porter Vinton
Encyclopedia
Frederic Porter Vinton sometimes spelled "Frederick", was an American
portrait painter from Bangor, Maine
. He grew up in Chicago
, and moved to Boston
in 1861 For twenty years he worked as a bookkeeper, during which he studied art under William Rimmer at the Lowell Institute
. Soon after studying at the Institute, he wrote an art review for the Boston Advertiser. He opened a portrait studio in Boston
in 1878. After his studio picked up business, he traveled abroad in Europe for eighteen months, then returned to marry Annie M. Pierce on June 27, 1883. His first exhibition was in 1880, which showed a portrait of his. He contributed his art to the exhibit every year until 1883, in which political unrest in the Academy in which the exhibit belonged forced him to resign for a year. In 1884 he submitted "Street in Toledo", the first of his landscape
s to be submitted. Everything before it was a portrait
of some kind. In 1891 he was elected a full member of the National Academy of Design, New York
.
, Frederic moved to Chicago
with his parents when he was ten. Then, five years later, his family moved to Boston
. After first working as a clerk, he for short time was a banker, and then worked as a bookkeeper. While a bookkeeper, he began studying art under William Rimmer
of the Lowel Institute. Upon prompting from Rimmer, Vinton sent a review of some local artwork to the Boston Advertiser. In 1878 he began his artistic career by starting a small portrait studio in Boston.
Frederic spent much of his time traveling the European continent, and it has influenced his work and differentiated it from the American work of the same time
, with one reviewer even calling him "an aristocrat of the old school." In 1875 he traveled to Paris
and studied under Léon Bonnat
for a season. In 1876 he spent a year in Munich
in which he spent his time learning under the teachings of Frank Duveneck
and the Royal Academy of Munich. Later, he returned to Paris
for two years, citing his dislike of the German method of impressionism, which included artists such as Lovis Corinth
or Max Liebermann
. While back in France
, joined the Acadèmie Julian and was taught under Jean-Pual Lauren. In 1882 he traveled to Spain
with Robert Blum
and William Merritt Chase
. The three artists spent time in Madrid
and Toledo
, and Frederic studied portraiture
by studying Velázquez
's previous work.
on May 20, 1911. After his death, Mrs. Frederic Porter Vinton released some of his paintings to assorted exhibits.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
portrait painter from Bangor, Maine
Bangor, Maine
Bangor is a city in and the county seat of Penobscot County, Maine, United States, and the major commercial and cultural center for eastern and northern Maine...
. He grew up in Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, and moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1861 For twenty years he worked as a bookkeeper, during which he studied art under William Rimmer at the Lowell Institute
Lowell Institute
The Lowell Institute is an educational foundation in Boston, Massachusetts, U.S.A., providing for free public lectures, and endowed by the bequest of $250,000 left by John Lowell, Jr., who died in 1836. Under the terms of his will 10% of the net income was to be added to the principal, which in...
. Soon after studying at the Institute, he wrote an art review for the Boston Advertiser. He opened a portrait studio in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
in 1878. After his studio picked up business, he traveled abroad in Europe for eighteen months, then returned to marry Annie M. Pierce on June 27, 1883. His first exhibition was in 1880, which showed a portrait of his. He contributed his art to the exhibit every year until 1883, in which political unrest in the Academy in which the exhibit belonged forced him to resign for a year. In 1884 he submitted "Street in Toledo", the first of his landscape
Landscape
Landscape comprises the visible features of an area of land, including the physical elements of landforms such as mountains, hills, water bodies such as rivers, lakes, ponds and the sea, living elements of land cover including indigenous vegetation, human elements including different forms of...
s to be submitted. Everything before it was a portrait
Portrait
thumb|250px|right|Portrait of [[Thomas Jefferson]] by [[Rembrandt Peale]], 1805. [[New-York Historical Society]].A portrait is a painting, photograph, sculpture, or other artistic representation of a person, in which the face and its expression is predominant. The intent is to display the likeness,...
of some kind. In 1891 he was elected a full member of the National Academy of Design, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
Early life
Born in MaineMaine
Maine is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States, bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the east and south, New Hampshire to the west, and the Canadian provinces of Quebec to the northwest and New Brunswick to the northeast. Maine is both the northernmost and easternmost...
, Frederic moved to Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
with his parents when he was ten. Then, five years later, his family moved to Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
. After first working as a clerk, he for short time was a banker, and then worked as a bookkeeper. While a bookkeeper, he began studying art under William Rimmer
William Rimmer
William Rimmer was an American artist born in Liverpool, England. He was the son of a French refugee, who emigrated to Nova Scotia, where he was joined by his wife and child in 1818, and who in 1826 moved to Boston, where he earned a living as a shoemaker...
of the Lowel Institute. Upon prompting from Rimmer, Vinton sent a review of some local artwork to the Boston Advertiser. In 1878 he began his artistic career by starting a small portrait studio in Boston.
Personal life
Vinton married Annie M. Pierce on June 27, 1883, after an eighteen month trip across Europe, visiting Holland, France, and Germany. Some of his most famous paintings of portraits of his young wife.Paintings
Frederic specialized in portraits, although he had done some landscapes, such as "Street in Toledo" and "River View, Spring". His paintings have been described as impressionistic. Some critiques have gone as far as to say his work was, more specifically, pre-1940's impressionism. His work was also highly influenced by his European travels, and his studies under many important artists of the time.European travels
American Impressionism
Impressionism, a style of painting characterized by loose brushwork and vivid colors, was practiced widely among American artists in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.-An emerging artistic style from Paris:...
, with one reviewer even calling him "an aristocrat of the old school." In 1875 he traveled to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
and studied under Léon Bonnat
Léon Bonnat
Léon Joseph Florentin Bonnat was a French painter.He was born in Bayonne, but from 1846 to 1853 he lived in Madrid, where his father owned a bookshop. While tending his father's shop, he copied engravings of works by the Old Masters, developing a passion for drawing...
for a season. In 1876 he spent a year in Munich
Munich
Munich The city's motto is "" . Before 2006, it was "Weltstadt mit Herz" . Its native name, , is derived from the Old High German Munichen, meaning "by the monks' place". The city's name derives from the monks of the Benedictine order who founded the city; hence the monk depicted on the city's coat...
in which he spent his time learning under the teachings of Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck
Frank Duveneck was an American figure and portrait painter.-Youth:Duveneck was born in Covington, Kentucky, the son of German immigrant Bernard Decker. Decker died when Frank was only a year old and his widow remarried Joseph Duveneck...
and the Royal Academy of Munich. Later, he returned to Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
for two years, citing his dislike of the German method of impressionism, which included artists such as Lovis Corinth
Lovis Corinth
Lovis Corinth was a German painter and printmaker whose mature work realized a synthesis of impressionism and expressionism....
or Max Liebermann
Max Liebermann
Max Liebermann was a German-Jewish painter and printmaker best known for his etching and lithography.-Biography:...
. While back in France
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
, joined the Acadèmie Julian and was taught under Jean-Pual Lauren. In 1882 he traveled to Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
with Robert Blum
Robert Blum
thumb|Painting by August Hunger of Robert Blum between 1845 and 1848Robert Blum was a German democratic politician, publicist, poet, publisher, revolutionist and member of the National Assembly of 1848. In his fight for a strong, unified Germany he opposed ethnocentrism and it was his strong...
and 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...
. The three artists spent time in Madrid
Madrid
Madrid is the capital and largest city of Spain. The population of the city is roughly 3.3 million and the entire population of the Madrid metropolitan area is calculated to be 6.271 million. It is the third largest city in the European Union, after London and Berlin, and its metropolitan...
and Toledo
Toledo, Spain
Toledo's Alcázar became renowned in the 19th and 20th centuries as a military academy. At the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War in 1936 its garrison was famously besieged by Republican forces.-Economy:...
, and Frederic studied portraiture
Portrait painting
Portrait painting is a genre in painting, where the intent is to depict the visual appearance of the subject. Beside human beings, animals, pets and even inanimate objects can be chosen as the subject for a portrait...
by studying Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
's previous work.
Death
Vinton died of a bronchial affectionBronchitis
Acute bronchitis is an inflammation of the large bronchi in the lungs that is usually caused by viruses or bacteria and may last several days or weeks. Characteristic symptoms include cough, sputum production, and shortness of breath and wheezing related to the obstruction of the inflamed airways...
on May 20, 1911. After his death, Mrs. Frederic Porter Vinton released some of his paintings to assorted exhibits.