Paul Sawyier
Encyclopedia
Paul Sawyier one of Kentucky
's most renowned artists, was an American impressionist painter
.
. In 1870, he moved with his family to Frankfort, Kentucky
.
After high school Sawyier attended the McMicken School of Design (now the Art Academy of Cincinnati
), studying under Frank Duveneck
and Thomas Satterwhite Noble
. In 1889, he furthered his art studies under William Merritt Chase
at the Art Students League of New York
.
area and New York.
Sawyier's paintings are considered historical documentation of the Kentucky River
at the turn of the Twentieth Century. In 1893, Sawyier went to the Chicago's World's Columbian Exposition
, where some of his works were in the State of Kentucky display.
From 1913 until his death, Sawyier lived in a converted chapel at "Highpoint," the estate of art patron Mrs. Marshall L. Emory in the New York Catskills. On November 5, 1917, at the age of 52, Sawyier died of heart attack. He was buried in a cemetery in Fleischmanns, New York
. Later that year, he was interred in the Sawyier-Wingate family plot in the Frankfort Cemetery
in Frankfort, Kentucky. At the time of his death it is estimated that he painted 3,000 works, mostly watercolor landscapes.
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
's most renowned artists, was an American impressionist painter
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...
.
Early life and education
Sawyier, the son of Dr. Nathaniel and Ellen Wingate Sawyier, was born on March 23, 1865 on his grandfather's farm near London in Madison County, OhioMadison County, Ohio
As of the census of 2000, there were 40,213 people, 13,672 households, and 10,035 families residing in the county. The population density was 86 people per square mile . There were 14,399 housing units at an average density of 31 per square mile...
. In 1870, he moved with his family to Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
.
After high school Sawyier attended the McMicken School of Design (now 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...
), studying under 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...
and Thomas Satterwhite Noble
Thomas Satterwhite Noble
Thomas Satterwhite Noble was born in Lexington, Kentucky. He grew up on a plantation where hemp and cotton were grown. Noble saw the effects of slavery firsthand and portrayed many scenes of the Old South in his works. He attended Transylvania University in Lexington and studied art with Oliver...
. In 1889, he furthered his art studies under William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase
William Merritt Chase was an American painter known as an exponent of Impressionism and as a teacher. He is also responsible for establishing the Chase School, which later would become Parsons The New School for Design.- Early life and training :He was born in Williamsburg , Indiana, to the family...
at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
.
Career as artist
Sawyier worked mostly in watercolor and is best known for his scenes in the Frankfort, KentuckyFrankfort, Kentucky
Frankfort is a city in Kentucky that serves as the state capital and the county seat of Franklin County. The population was 27,741 at the 2000 census; by population it is the 5th smallest state capital in the United States...
area and New York.
Sawyier's paintings are considered historical documentation of the Kentucky River
Kentucky River
The Kentucky River is a tributary of the Ohio River, long, in the U.S. state of Kentucky. The river and its tributaries drain much of the central region of the state, with its upper course passing through the coal-mining regions of the Cumberland Mountains, and its lower course passing through the...
at the turn of the Twentieth Century. In 1893, Sawyier went to the Chicago's World's 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...
, where some of his works were in the State of Kentucky display.
Later life and death
Fleischmanns, New York
Fleischmanns is a village in Delaware County, New York, United States. The population was 351 at the 2000 census. Fleischmanns is in the town of Middletown.- History :Early settlers of this area came from Germany, England, Holland and Ireland...
. Later that year, he was interred in the Sawyier-Wingate family plot in the Frankfort Cemetery
Frankfort Cemetery
The Frankfort Cemetery is located on East Main Street in Frankfort, Kentucky. The cemetery is the burial site of Daniel Boone and contains the graves of other famous Americans including seventeen Kentucky governors.-History:...
in Frankfort, Kentucky. At the time of his death it is estimated that he painted 3,000 works, mostly watercolor landscapes.