Rowan Nathaniel House
Encyclopedia
Rowan Nathaniel House, known as Nathan, (December 13, 1908 – January 26, 1947) was a mid-20th century artist of some renown. He used a variety of media including oil on canvas, watercolor, and pen and ink.
, U.S.A. to Nathaniel Perkins House (banker, cotton merchant, and farmer) and Rowena Thayer. He spent his childhood in Mineral Wells, just south of Memphis, Tennessee
and later attended the Art Institute of Chicago
. After the U.S. Wall Street Crash of 1929
, he returned to Cleveland, Mississippi to graduate from Delta State college (now Delta State University
). He was striken with polio at the age of 19 which affected his left arm and leg, both of which were considerably smaller and weaker throughout his life as a result. He utilized the techniques of Elizabeth Kenny
in the treatment of his condition.
, House supported himself primarily through commercial art in Memphis, Tennessee. In particular, he painted portraits for young southern debutantes celebrating their coming out parties. Many such portraits were reproduced in the Commercial Appeal
, the daily newspaper in Memphis.
In 1935, House married Maxine Boggan and later moved to New York City, New York. While there, he earned a living both as a commercial artist and a free-lance artist.
The subject which House captured in his paintings most frequently was life in the "old South
". Many of his works centered around cotton farming, farm workers, and various scenery relating to the rural lifestyle of early 20th century Mississippi. He was well known for his pen and ink drawings as well as portraits of many notable people of the South.
, House was hired by the Army Air Force to work on training films for pilots. He was in Orlando, Florida
producing pictures of the first jets when he was striken with stomach cancer. His stomach was removed at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City
. He then returned to Mississippi and the family home. He recuperated for a year before he attempted to work again. House died in 1947 at the age of 38 from complications relating to his stomach cancer. He and his wife never had children, most likely secondary to his polio.
, several of House's works hung in the Oval Office
as part of the President's desire to promote southern artists.
Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi has several art scholarships in his memory and has many of House's works on display.
Early life
House was born in MississippiMississippi
Mississippi is a U.S. state located in the Southern United States. Jackson is the state capital and largest city. The name of the state derives from the Mississippi River, which flows along its western boundary, whose name comes from the Ojibwe word misi-ziibi...
, U.S.A. to Nathaniel Perkins House (banker, cotton merchant, and farmer) and Rowena Thayer. He spent his childhood in Mineral Wells, just south of Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis, Tennessee
Memphis is a city in the southwestern corner of the U.S. state of Tennessee, and the county seat of Shelby County. The city is located on the 4th Chickasaw Bluff, south of the confluence of the Wolf and Mississippi rivers....
and later attended 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...
. After the U.S. Wall Street Crash of 1929
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
, he returned to Cleveland, Mississippi to graduate from Delta State college (now Delta State University
Delta State University
Delta State University, also known as DSU, is a regional public university located in Cleveland, Mississippi, United States, in the heart of the Mississippi Delta...
). He was striken with polio at the age of 19 which affected his left arm and leg, both of which were considerably smaller and weaker throughout his life as a result. He utilized the techniques of Elizabeth Kenny
Elizabeth Kenny
Elizabeth Kenny was an unqualified Australian nurse who promoted a controversial new approach to the treatment of poliomyelitis in the era before mass vaccination eradicated the disease in most countries.-Youth:...
in the treatment of his condition.
Career
During the years following the great depressionGreat Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
, House supported himself primarily through commercial art in Memphis, Tennessee. In particular, he painted portraits for young southern debutantes celebrating their coming out parties. Many such portraits were reproduced in the Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal is the predominant daily newspaper of Memphis, Tennessee, and its surrounding metropolitan area. It is owned by The E. W. Scripps Company, a major North American media company. Scripps also owned the former afternoon paper, the Memphis Press-Scimitar, which it folded in...
, the daily newspaper in Memphis.
In 1935, House married Maxine Boggan and later moved to New York City, New York. While there, he earned a living both as a commercial artist and a free-lance artist.
The subject which House captured in his paintings most frequently was life in the "old South
Old South
Geographically, Old South is a subregion of the American South, differentiated from the "Deep South" as being the Southern States represented in the original thirteen American colonies, as well as a way of describing the former lifestyle in the Southern United States. Culturally, the term can be...
". Many of his works centered around cotton farming, farm workers, and various scenery relating to the rural lifestyle of early 20th century Mississippi. He was well known for his pen and ink drawings as well as portraits of many notable people of the South.
Death
After the outbreak of World War IIWorld War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
, House was hired by the Army Air Force to work on training films for pilots. He was in Orlando, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Orlando is a city in the central region of the U.S. state of Florida. It is the county seat of Orange County, and the center of the Greater Orlando metropolitan area. According to the 2010 US Census, the city had a population of 238,300, making Orlando the 79th largest city in the United States...
producing pictures of the first jets when he was striken with stomach cancer. His stomach was removed at Mount Sinai hospital in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He then returned to Mississippi and the family home. He recuperated for a year before he attempted to work again. House died in 1947 at the age of 38 from complications relating to his stomach cancer. He and his wife never had children, most likely secondary to his polio.
Posthumous accomplishments
During the presidency of Jimmy CarterJimmy Carter
James Earl "Jimmy" Carter, Jr. is an American politician who served as the 39th President of the United States and was the recipient of the 2002 Nobel Peace Prize, the only U.S. President to have received the Prize after leaving office...
, several of House's works hung in the Oval Office
Oval Office
The Oval Office, located in the West Wing of the White House, is the official office of the President of the United States.The room features three large south-facing windows behind the president's desk, and a fireplace at the north end...
as part of the President's desire to promote southern artists.
Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi has several art scholarships in his memory and has many of House's works on display.