Harry Roseland
Encyclopedia
Harry Herman Roseland was one of the most notable painters
of the genre painting
school around the turn of the 20th century. An American
, Roseland was primarily known for paintings centered on poor African-Americans.
Roseland was largely self-taught, and never traveled to Europe to study art, as did many of the American artists of his time. However, he did receive instruction from John Bernard Whittaker and later, James Carroll Beckwith
. One of his most popular subjects were his paintings of black women fortune tellers who read the palms and tea leaves of white women clients. These paintings were widely reproduced during the early 20th century in the form of postcard
sets and large full-colour prints that were distributed as Sunday supplements in newspaper
s. While known most for his paintings of African Americans, his work encompassed many genres, including seascapes and portraits. He also gained renown for his paintings of laborers in the coastal areas of New England and New York and his many interior paintings.
Roseland was born and lived his entire life in Brooklyn
. He was a member of the Salmagundi Club
and the Brooklyn Society of Artists; in the latter organization he was a member of the executive board.
Oprah Winfrey
has stated that her favorite painting in her personal collection is Roseland's 1904 work, To the Highest Bidder. This painting, which unlike most of Roseland's pieces is actually a pre-Civil War scene, depicts a mother and daughter that are about to be separated by a slave auction.
Painting
Painting is the practice of applying paint, pigment, color or other medium to a surface . The application of the medium is commonly applied to the base with a brush but other objects can be used. In art, the term painting describes both the act and the result of the action. However, painting is...
of the genre painting
Genre painting
Genre works, also called genre scenes or genre views, are pictorial representations in any of various media that represent scenes or events from everyday life, such as markets, domestic settings, interiors, parties, inn scenes, and street scenes. Such representations may be realistic, imagined, or...
school around the turn of the 20th century. An American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, Roseland was primarily known for paintings centered on poor African-Americans.
Roseland was largely self-taught, and never traveled to Europe to study art, as did many of the American artists of his time. However, he did receive instruction from John Bernard Whittaker and later, James Carroll Beckwith
James Carroll Beckwith
James Carroll Beckwith was an American landscape, portrait and genre painter whose Impressionist style led to his recognition in the late nineteenth century as a prominent figure in American art.-Biography:...
. One of his most popular subjects were his paintings of black women fortune tellers who read the palms and tea leaves of white women clients. These paintings were widely reproduced during the early 20th century in the form of postcard
Postcard
A postcard or post card is a rectangular piece of thick paper or thin cardboard intended for writing and mailing without an envelope....
sets and large full-colour prints that were distributed as Sunday supplements in newspaper
Newspaper
A newspaper is a scheduled publication containing news of current events, informative articles, diverse features and advertising. It usually is printed on relatively inexpensive, low-grade paper such as newsprint. By 2007, there were 6580 daily newspapers in the world selling 395 million copies a...
s. While known most for his paintings of African Americans, his work encompassed many genres, including seascapes and portraits. He also gained renown for his paintings of laborers in the coastal areas of New England and New York and his many interior paintings.
Roseland was born and lived his entire life in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
. He was a member of the Salmagundi Club
Salmagundi Club
The Salmagundi Club, also known as the Salmagundi Art Club, was founded in 1871 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, in the United States. It currently is located at 47 Fifth Avenue...
and the Brooklyn Society of Artists; in the latter organization he was a member of the executive board.
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey
Oprah Winfrey is an American media proprietor, talk show host, actress, producer and philanthropist. Winfrey is best known for her self-titled, multi-award-winning talk show, which has become the highest-rated program of its kind in history and was nationally syndicated from 1986 to 2011...
has stated that her favorite painting in her personal collection is Roseland's 1904 work, To the Highest Bidder. This painting, which unlike most of Roseland's pieces is actually a pre-Civil War scene, depicts a mother and daughter that are about to be separated by a slave auction.
Awards
Roseland won many awards in his lifetime. These include gold medals from the Brooklyn Art Club (1888), the Boston Art Club (1904), and the American Art Society in Philadelphia (1907). Roseland received many other medals and awards as well.External links
- http://query.nytimes.com/gst/abstract.html?res=9D0CE1D71638E433A25755C2A9659C94699ED7CF
- http://www.askart.com/askart/r/harry_herman_roseland/harry_herman_roseland.aspx
- https://www.brooklynmuseum.org/opencollection/artists/1070/Harry_Roseland