John B. Fairbanks
Encyclopedia
John B Fairbanks was a prominent Latter-day Saint art
ist and the progenitor of many other Utah
artists.
Fairbanks decided to become an artist after he watched John Hafen
at work.
Fairbanks mainly painted landscapes and portraits.
Fairbanks served a mission
in the Southern States Mission
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In 1890, he was sent as an art missionary to France along with Hafen, Lorus Pratt
and others. On their return to Utah Territory
they created mural
s in the Salt Lake Temple
.
Fairbanks was married to Lillie Huish. In 1898 she died from a fall down stairs while carrying Avard Fairbanks
. Avard's survived to become a sculptor In 1900, John Fairbanks left his seven children in the care of his oldest son J. Leo Fairbanks and went with Benjamin Cluff
's archaeology expedition to Latin America
. He was to sketch and photograph his travels. After the group disbanded Fairbanks remained in Latin America taking in the landscapes.
After his return to Utah in 1902 he married Florence Gifford and they had five children.
Fairbanks died at age 85.
Art
Art is the product or process of deliberately arranging items in a way that influences and affects one or more of the senses, emotions, and intellect....
ist and the progenitor of many other Utah
Utah
Utah is a state in the Western United States. It was the 45th state to join the Union, on January 4, 1896. Approximately 80% of Utah's 2,763,885 people live along the Wasatch Front, centering on Salt Lake City. This leaves vast expanses of the state nearly uninhabited, making the population the...
artists.
Biography
Fairbanks was born to John Boylston Fairbanks and Sarah Van Wagoner. Since he and his father shared the same name, he was known as J. B. to his family.Fairbanks decided to become an artist after he watched John Hafen
John Hafen
-Biography:Hafen was born in Scherzingen, Switzerland. His parents joined The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and immigrated to Utah Territory. When they first came to Utah, the family lived in Payson. In 1868, Hafen began attending the 20th Ward Academy in Salt Lake City, where one...
at work.
Fairbanks mainly painted landscapes and portraits.
Fairbanks served a mission
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
in the Southern States Mission
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church).
In 1890, he was sent as an art missionary to France along with Hafen, Lorus Pratt
Lorus Pratt
Lorus Bishop Pratt was a Latter-day Saint artist and missionary.Pratt served a mission in Pennsylvania for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints starting in 1875...
and others. On their return to Utah Territory
Utah Territory
The Territory of Utah was an organized incorporated territory of the United States that existed from September 9, 1850, until January 4, 1896, when the final extent of the territory was admitted to the Union as the State of Utah....
they created mural
Mural
A mural is any piece of artwork painted or applied directly on a wall, ceiling or other large permanent surface. A particularly distinguishing characteristic of mural painting is that the architectural elements of the given space are harmoniously incorporated into the picture.-History:Murals of...
s in the Salt Lake Temple
Salt Lake Temple
The Salt Lake Temple is the largest and best-known of more than 130 temples of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is the sixth temple built by the church, requiring 40 years to complete, and the fourth operating temple built since the Mormon exodus from Nauvoo,...
.
Fairbanks was married to Lillie Huish. In 1898 she died from a fall down stairs while carrying Avard Fairbanks
Avard Fairbanks
Avard Tennyson Fairbanks was a prolific 20th century American sculptor. Three of his sculptures are in the United States Capitol, and the state capitols in both Utah and Wyoming, as well as numerous other locations, also have his works...
. Avard's survived to become a sculptor In 1900, John Fairbanks left his seven children in the care of his oldest son J. Leo Fairbanks and went with Benjamin Cluff
Benjamin Cluff
Benjamin Cluff, Jr. was the first President of Brigham Young University, and the school's third principal. Under his administration, the students and faculty more than doubled in size, and the school went from an academy to a university and was officially incorporated by The Church of Jesus...
's archaeology expedition to Latin America
Latin America
Latin America is a region of the Americas where Romance languages – particularly Spanish and Portuguese, and variably French – are primarily spoken. Latin America has an area of approximately 21,069,500 km² , almost 3.9% of the Earth's surface or 14.1% of its land surface area...
. He was to sketch and photograph his travels. After the group disbanded Fairbanks remained in Latin America taking in the landscapes.
After his return to Utah in 1902 he married Florence Gifford and they had five children.
Fairbanks died at age 85.