Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art
Encyclopedia
The Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art is an association of representational artists, founded in Chicago
in 1895. Palette & Chisel is the second oldest artist organization in the United States.
. Charles J. Mulligan, an assistant to sculptor Lorado Taft
, was able to persuade Taft to rent the organization part of his seventh floor studio on Van Buren Street in Chicago.
Early supporters of the organization included: Charlie Russell
and George Bellows
. The Palette & Chisel served as the artistic home of James Topping
Walter Ufer
, and Eugene Savage
.In 1921, with the help of founding member, Fred Larson, who mortgaged his home for this purpose, the club purchased the mansion at 1012 N. Dearborn Street where it still resides. In 1933, the organization changed its name to the "Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art", as it became an educational, not-for-profit institution.
Early members of note included:
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 1895. Palette & Chisel is the second oldest artist organization in the United States.
Founding
As the Inland Printer reported in June 1896:
An association of artists and craftsmen for the purpose of work and study--such is the Palette and Chisel Club of Chicago. The organization is unique in that its members are all wage-workers and busy during the week with pencil, brush or chisel, doing work to please other people. But on Sunday mornings, at 9 o'clock, they assemble in the studio of Lorado TaftLorado TaftLorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
, in the Athenaeum Building, and for five hours each amuses himself by working in his chosen medium, to suit himself.
Two-thirds of the members are students in the "life class" at the Art Institute of ChicagoArt Institute of ChicagoThe 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...
night school, and a desire for opportunity to study from the model in daylight, so that color might be used, led to the organization of the club.
The following is a list of the club's membership: Charles J. Mulligan (later head of the sculpture department at the Art Institute), David Hunter and W. J. Hutchinson, sculptors; Ray Brown, chief of the Times-Herald art department, and F. Holme, of the Evening-Post; Henry Hutt, illustrator and designer for J. Manz & Co.; Carl Mauch, of the Werner Company's art staff; Will Carqueville, poster designer and lithographer; Curtis Gandy, Capel Rowley, Richard Boehm, Edward Loewenheim and C.C. Senf, designers and illustrators; L. Pearson, F.J. Thwing and H.L. Bredtschneider, fresco painters and decorators; Fred Mulhaupt, display advertiser; Ancel Cook, scenic artist; A. Sterba and W.H. Irvine, portrait artists; Arthur Carr, H. Wagner, L.M. Coakley and J.S. Shippen, art students. Fred Larson is a "proofer", and the printer's trade is represented by W.A. Randall.
Early years
The founding members were principally evening students at the Art Institute of ChicagoArt 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...
. Charles J. Mulligan, an assistant to sculptor Lorado Taft
Lorado Taft
Lorado Zadoc Taft was an American sculptor, writer and educator. Taft was born in Elmwood, Illinois in 1860 and died in his home studio in Chicago in 1936.-Early years and education:...
, was able to persuade Taft to rent the organization part of his seventh floor studio on Van Buren Street in Chicago.
Early supporters of the organization included: Charlie Russell
Charlie Russell
Charlie Russell is a Canadian naturalist famous for his study of grizzly bears. He is the son of the well known hunter, guide, film maker, and naturalist Andy Russell....
and George Bellows
George Bellows
George Wesley Bellows was an American realist painter, known for his bold depictions of urban life in New York City, becoming, according to the Columbus Museum of Art, "the most acclaimed American artist of his generation".-Youth:Bellows was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio...
. The Palette & Chisel served as the artistic home of James Topping
James Topping
James Topping is a retired Irish rugby footballer. He won 8 caps for the Irish team between 1996 and 2003, playing on the wing. He also played for Ballymena and Ulster.-References:...
Walter Ufer
Walter Ufer
Walter Ufer was an American artist based in Taos, New Mexico. His most notable work focuses on scenes of Native American life, particularly of the Pueblo Indians....
, and Eugene Savage
Eugene Savage
Eugene Francis Savage was an American painter and sculptor known for his murals in the manner made official under the Works Projects Administration. He also is known for his work on the Bailey Fountain in Grand Army Plaza, Brooklyn, New York.He was born in Covington, Indiana...
.In 1921, with the help of founding member, Fred Larson, who mortgaged his home for this purpose, the club purchased the mansion at 1012 N. Dearborn Street where it still resides. In 1933, the organization changed its name to the "Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art", as it became an educational, not-for-profit institution.
Early members of note included:
- Carl Brandner (1898-1961)
- Benjamin BlessumBenjamin BlessumBenjamin Blessum was an American painter, graphic artist and illustrator. He was primarily known for his Norwegian landscapes.-Background:...
(1877- 1954) - Walter Marshall Clute (1870-1915)
- John Carl DoemlingJohn Carl DoemlingJohn Carl Doemling , artist, the son of potato farmers Leonard Doemling and Johanna Herrmann, was born in Sulzfeld, Rhön-Grabfeld, Bavaria, Germany. Known throughout his life as “Carl”, he spent his early years in a seminary preparing to become a priest; however, by age twelve he had opted to...
(1894-1955) - Frank Dudley (1868-1957)
- J. Jeffrey Grant (1883-1960)
- Oskar Gross (1871-1963)
- Victor Higgins (1884-1949)
- Frank Holme (?-1904)
- Wilson IrvineWilson IrvineWilson Henry Irvine was a master American Impressionist landscape painter.Although most closely associated with the Old Lyme, Connecticut art colony headed by Florence Griswold, Irvine spent his early career near Chicago, a product of the School of the Art Institute of Chicago...
(1869-1936) - Thomas A. O'Shaughnessy (1870-1956)
- Karl OurenKarl OurenKarl Ouren was an American artist best known for his paintings of Norwegian landscapes and scenes, particularly those featuring winter and snow.-Background:...
(1882-1943) - Edgar Alwin PayneEdgar Alwin PayneEdgar Alwin Payne was an American Western landscape painter and muralist.-Early life:Payne was born in Washburn, Barry County, Missouri, in the heart of the Ozarks. Washburn is in southwest Missouri, only nine miles from the Arkansas border. But that wouldn’t stop this turn-of-the-century Missouri...
(1883–1947) - Emory Seidel (1881- )
- Joseph Tomanek (1889-1974)
- Walter UferWalter UferWalter Ufer was an American artist based in Taos, New Mexico. His most notable work focuses on scenes of Native American life, particularly of the Pueblo Indians....
(1876-1936) - Nicola VeronicaNicola VeronicaNicola Veronica a portrait artist, photograph engraver for The Chicago Tribune newspaper, and art instructor at Palette and Chisel Academy of Fine Art in Chicago, Illinois, was born 15 August 1905 in Italy, and died September 1979. His last residence was the Chicago, Illinois area...
(1905-1979)