Charles Ethan Porter
Charles Ethan Porter specialized in still life painting—we present a good example of his art today. A student at the National Academy of Design in New York City, he was one of the first African Americans to exhibit there. He was also the only African American artist at the turn of the century who painted still lifes.
Porter spent a good deal of time outdoors. He was very interested in nature, which is reflected in his paintings of butterflies, dead birds, insects, and plants. In 1879, his work gained the attention of influential landscape painter Frederic Edwin Church. Church visited Porter, purchased a few paintings, and declared Porter to "have no superior as a colorist in the United States." Church encouraged Porter to study and paint landscapes. In 1880, Porter visited the Adirondacks for two months of sketching and painting. He declared at the time that he would focus his work primarily on landscapes, except for commissioned still-life paintings.
He traveled to France and in Paris he studied the works of the influential artists of the Barbizon school of painting. He enrolled in the Ecole des Arts Decoratifs, where he studied until 1884, when he ran out of money and returned to Hartford. In early 1885, Porter returned to New York City and opened a studio. He exhibited his work at the National Academy of Design and continued to paint.
Despite his considerable achievements and education, Porter contended with harsh racism. He died in near total obscurity in 1923.
P.S. Here you will find 10 most beautiful artistic flower arrangements for Spring! <3