George Hewitt Cushman
Encyclopedia
George Hewitt Cushman a top American engraver and painter of miniature paintings and portraits
of his time (second only to Edward Greene Malbone), turned early to these professions after family financial misfortunes prevented him from entering West Point
and becoming a soldier.
He studied drawing under Washington Allston
and line engraving
with Asaph Willard and Seth and John Cheney (with whom he later shared a studio in Boston
).
In 1843 he moved to Philadelphia and resided there for twenty years, appearing in the city's directory as a miniature painting and portrait painter. In 1849 he married Susan Wetherill. While in Philadelphia he engraved printing plates for many books, including James Fenimore Cooper
's novels' thirty-four volumes (1859–1861), the household edition of Charles Dickens
(1861), and Frances S. Osgood
's Poems (1850), and portraits including Young America in the Alps, Forrest in Alger's Life of Edwin Forrest
(1877), and a portrait of Lord Byron entitled inter alia).
He primarily engraved notes however for state banks until the creation of the National Banking Act
and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
in Washington D.C. caused him to retire from this work.
In 1862 he moved to New York City
and created miniature paintings and portraits until his death at a water cure. His funeral was held at Chalkley Hall in Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
. His self portrait is reproduced in Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
's Heirlooms in Miniatures (1898).
His genius would have placed him atop most American miniature painters. His signed engravings were noted as being "executed with much taste and ability". Sara Jane Lippincott
remarked that his miniatures "were always remarkable for purity and simplicity of character as well as tone". However his extreme modesty always precluded him from ever exhibiting his miniatures save only to his friends.
In 1928 the New York Public Library
displayed examples of his engravings in a presentation of the works of one hundred notable American engravers. A group of his miniatures were publicly displayed front and center at the Retrospective Exhibition of the Columbian Exposition
in Chicago
in 1893.
Portrait miniature
A portrait miniature is a miniature portrait painting, usually executed in gouache, watercolour, or enamel.Portrait miniatures began to flourish in 16th century Europe and the art was practiced during the 17th century and 18th century...
of his time (second only to Edward Greene Malbone), turned early to these professions after family financial misfortunes prevented him from entering West Point
United States Military Academy
The United States Military Academy at West Point is a four-year coeducational federal service academy located at West Point, New York. The academy sits on scenic high ground overlooking the Hudson River, north of New York City...
and becoming a soldier.
He studied drawing under Washington Allston
Washington Allston
Washington Allston was an American painter and poet, born in Waccamaw Parish, South Carolina. Allston pioneered America's Romantic movement of landscape painting...
and line engraving
Line engraving
Line engraving is a term for engraved images printed on paper to be used as prints or illustrations. The term is now much less used and when is, it is mainly in connection with 18th or 19th century commercial illustrations for magazines and books, or reproductions of paintings.Steel engraving is...
with Asaph Willard and Seth and John Cheney (with whom he later shared a 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 1843 he moved to Philadelphia and resided there for twenty years, appearing in the city's directory as a miniature painting and portrait painter. In 1849 he married Susan Wetherill. While in Philadelphia he engraved printing plates for many books, including James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper
James Fenimore Cooper was a prolific and popular American writer of the early 19th century. He is best remembered as a novelist who wrote numerous sea-stories and the historical novels known as the Leatherstocking Tales, featuring frontiersman Natty Bumppo...
's novels' thirty-four volumes (1859–1861), the household edition of Charles Dickens
Charles Dickens
Charles John Huffam Dickens was an English novelist, generally considered the greatest of the Victorian period. Dickens enjoyed a wider popularity and fame than had any previous author during his lifetime, and he remains popular, having been responsible for some of English literature's most iconic...
(1861), and Frances S. Osgood
Frances Sargent Osgood
Frances Sargent Osgood was an American poet and one of the most popular women writers during her time...
's Poems (1850), and portraits including Young America in the Alps, Forrest in Alger's Life of Edwin Forrest
Edwin Forrest
Edwin Forrest was an American actor.-Early life:Forrest was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, of Scottish and German descent. His father died and he was brought up by his mother, a German woman of humble origins. He was educated at the common schools in Philadelphia, and early evinced a taste...
(1877), and a portrait of Lord Byron entitled inter alia).
He primarily engraved notes however for state banks until the creation of the National Banking Act
National Banking Act
The National Banking Acts of 1863 and 1864 were two United States federal laws that established a system of national charters for banks, and created the United States National Banking System. They encouraged development of a national currency backed by bank holdings of U.S...
and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing
Bureau of Engraving and Printing
The Bureau of Engraving and Printing is a government agency within the United States Department of the Treasury that designs and produces a variety of security products for the United States government, most notable of which is paper currency for the Federal Reserve. The Federal Reserve itself is...
in Washington D.C. caused him to retire from this work.
In 1862 he moved to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
and created miniature paintings and portraits until his death at a water cure. His funeral was held at Chalkley Hall in Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frankford, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Frankford is a large and important neighborhood in the lower Northeast section of Philadelphia situated about six miles northeast of Center City. Although its borders are vaguely defined, the neighborhood is bounded roughly by the original course of Frankford Creek, now roughly Adams to Aramingo...
. His self portrait is reproduced in Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Anne Hollingsworth Wharton
Anne Hollingsworth Wharton was an American writer and historian.Born at Southampton Furnace, Pennsylvania, daughter of Charles Wharton and Mary McLanahan Boggs she was educated at a private school in Philadelphia...
's Heirlooms in Miniatures (1898).
His genius would have placed him atop most American miniature painters. His signed engravings were noted as being "executed with much taste and ability". Sara Jane Lippincott
Sara Jane Lippincott
Sara Jane Lippincott was better known by the pseudonym Grace Greenwood. She was an American author, poet and lecturer. One of the first women to gain access into the Congressional press galleries, she used her questions to advocate for social reform and women's rights.-Biography:thumb|left|Sara...
remarked that his miniatures "were always remarkable for purity and simplicity of character as well as tone". However his extreme modesty always precluded him from ever exhibiting his miniatures save only to his friends.
In 1928 the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
displayed examples of his engravings in a presentation of the works of one hundred notable American engravers. A group of his miniatures were publicly displayed front and center at the Retrospective Exhibition of the Columbian Exposition
World's Columbian Exposition
The World's Columbian Exposition was a World's Fair held in Chicago in 1893 to celebrate the 400th anniversary of Christopher Columbus's arrival in the New World in 1492. Chicago bested New York City; Washington, D.C.; and St...
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...
in 1893.