John Ellsworth Weis
Encyclopedia
John Ellsworth Weis was an American painter. He was born in Powell County, Kentucky
, moved to Higginsport, Ohio
at an early age, and then moved again to Norwood, Ohio
at nine years of age. At 14 years of age, he enrolled in night classes at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
, the faculty of which included Frank Duveneck
(1848–1919), James Roy Hopkins (1877–1969), Lewis Henry Meakin
(1850–1917), and Herman Henry Wessel (1878–1969). Weis eventually became a fulltime student, and at age 22, joined the faculty. He remained on the faculty for 38 years, with the exception of a period of military service during World War I
.
In the 1920s Weis traveled to Europe, where he exhibited at the Paris Salon. He was accompanied by his student, Frank Harmon Myers
(1899–1956) on this trip. After returning to Cincinnati, Weis married Sally Cuthbert, a student at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
who became an instructor at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
. Parkinson's disease
forced him to retire from the Art Academy in 1957, and he died from a fall in his home in 1962.
Weis is best known for his impressionistic
landscapes (as typified by The Canal at Dusk) and portraits (as typified by An Afro-American with Hat). He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Annual
in 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1933; at the Art Institute of Chicago
in 1926, 1928, and 1930; and at the Corcoran Gallery biennials
in 1928 and 1932.
Powell County, Kentucky
Powell County is a county located in the U.S. state of Kentucky. As of 2000, the population is 13,237. Its county seat is Stanton. The county was formed January 7, 1852, by Kentucky Governor Lazarus W. Powell...
, moved to Higginsport, Ohio
Higginsport, Ohio
Higginsport is a village in Brown County, Ohio, United States, along the Ohio River. The population was 291 at the 2000 census.-Geography:Higginsport is located at ....
at an early age, and then moved again to Norwood, Ohio
Norwood, Ohio
Norwood is the second most populous city in Hamilton County, Ohio, United States. The city is an enclave of the larger city of Cincinnati. The population was 21,675 at the 2000 census. Originally settled as an early suburb of Cincinnati in the wooded countryside north of the city, the area is...
at nine years of age. At 14 years of age, he enrolled in night classes at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
Art Academy of Cincinnati
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, in Cincinnati, Ohio...
, the faculty of which included 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...
(1848–1919), James Roy Hopkins (1877–1969), Lewis Henry Meakin
Lewis Henry Meakin
Lewis Henry Meakin was an American Impressionist landscape artist born in Newcastle, England, moving to Cincinnati, Ohio with his family in 1863. After studying art in Europe he returned to Cincinnati where he taught at the Cincinnati Art Academy...
(1850–1917), and Herman Henry Wessel (1878–1969). Weis eventually became a fulltime student, and at age 22, joined the faculty. He remained on the faculty for 38 years, with the exception of a period of military service during World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
.
In the 1920s Weis traveled to Europe, where he exhibited at the Paris Salon. He was accompanied by his student, Frank Harmon Myers
Frank Harmon Myers
Frank Harmon Myers was an American Impressionism painter. His work includes a variety of topics but is best known for his seascapes....
(1899–1956) on this trip. After returning to Cincinnati, Weis married Sally Cuthbert, a student at the Art Academy of Cincinnati
Art Academy of Cincinnati
The Art Academy of Cincinnati is a private college of art and design, accredited by the National Association of Schools of Art and Design, in Cincinnati, Ohio...
who became an instructor at the University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning
The University of Cincinnati College of Design, Architecture, Art, and Planning, commonly referred to as DAAP, is a college of the University of Cincinnati. Located in the university's main campus in Cincinnati, Ohio, DAAP is consistently ranked as one of the most prestigious design schools in the...
. Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease
Parkinson's disease is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system...
forced him to retire from the Art Academy in 1957, and he died from a fall in his home in 1962.
Weis is best known for his impressionistic
Impressionism
Impressionism was a 19th-century art movement that originated with a group of Paris-based artists whose independent exhibitions brought them to prominence during the 1870s and 1880s...
landscapes (as typified by The Canal at Dusk) and portraits (as typified by An Afro-American with Hat). He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts Annual
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
in 1925, 1926, 1927, 1930, and 1933; at the Art Institute of Chicago
Art Institute of Chicago
The School of the Art Institute of Chicago is one of America's largest accredited independent schools of art and design, located in the Loop in Chicago, Illinois. It is associated with the museum of the same name, and "The Art Institute of Chicago" or "Chicago Art Institute" often refers to either...
in 1926, 1928, and 1930; and at the Corcoran Gallery biennials
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 1928 and 1932.