Frederic Whitaker
Encyclopedia
Frederic Whitaker was an award-winning American designer
, painter
and author.
, Frederic Whitaker began his working career as an apprentice designer with W. J. Feeley and Co., manufacturers of metal-ware, where he soon rose to head of design. He went on to work with Gorham Manufacturing Company
and Tiffany & Co.
, both noted producers of fine silver, and later bought and built up two companies on his own, Foley and Dugan in Providence and G.H. Seffert in New York
.
During this time Whitaker was also actively painting, working mainly in watercolors, and in 1949 he retired from business to devote all his attention to painting, writing, and art-related philanthropic
activities.
Whitaker was a member of the National Academy of Design
, served seven years as president of the American Watercolor Society
, and founded Audubon Artists, whose purpose is to speak for all aspects of the visual arts. He also served on numerous other boards and organizations. Whitaker also wrote two books and more than 90 articles on art-related topics.
's Royal Society of Arts
. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, National Academy of Design
, and the Hispanic Museum, as well as museums and galleries from California to Connecticut.
Designer
A designer is a person who designs. More formally, a designer is an agent that "specifies the structural properties of a design object". In practice, anyone who creates tangible or intangible objects, such as consumer products, processes, laws, games and graphics, is referred to as a...
, 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...
and author.
Biography
Born in Providence, Rhode IslandProvidence, Rhode Island
Providence is the capital and most populous city of Rhode Island and was one of the first cities established in the United States. Located in Providence County, it is the third largest city in the New England region...
, Frederic Whitaker began his working career as an apprentice designer with W. J. Feeley and Co., manufacturers of metal-ware, where he soon rose to head of design. He went on to work with Gorham Manufacturing Company
Gorham Manufacturing Company
The Gorham Manufacturing Company is an American manufacturer of sterling and silverplate.-History:Gorham Silver was founded in Providence, Rhode Island 1831 by Jabez Gorham, a master craftsman, in partnership with Henry L. Webster. The firm's chief product was spoons of coin silver. The company...
and Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co.
Tiffany & Co. is an American jewelry and silverware company. As part of its branding, the company is strongly associated with its Tiffany Blue , which is a registered trademark.- History :...
, both noted producers of fine silver, and later bought and built up two companies on his own, Foley and Dugan in Providence and G.H. Seffert in New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
.
During this time Whitaker was also actively painting, working mainly in watercolors, and in 1949 he retired from business to devote all his attention to painting, writing, and art-related philanthropic
Philanthropy
Philanthropy etymologically means "the love of humanity"—love in the sense of caring for, nourishing, developing, or enhancing; humanity in the sense of "what it is to be human," or "human potential." In modern practical terms, it is "private initiatives for public good, focusing on quality of...
activities.
Whitaker was a member of the National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, served seven years as president of the American Watercolor Society
American Watercolor Society
The American Watercolor Society is a nonprofit membership organization devoted to the advancement of watercolor painting in the United States. It was founded in 1866 by eleven painters and, originally, was known as the American Society of Painters in Water Colors...
, and founded Audubon Artists, whose purpose is to speak for all aspects of the visual arts. He also served on numerous other boards and organizations. Whitaker also wrote two books and more than 90 articles on art-related topics.
Awards
Over his career Whitaker received more than 150 awards from art organizations across the United States, among them the Horatio Alger Award, and was made a Fellow of BritainUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's Royal Society of Arts
Royal Society of Arts
The Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufacturers and Commerce is a British multi-disciplinary institution, based in London. The name Royal Society of Arts is frequently used for brevity...
. His work is in the permanent collections of the Metropolitan Museum of Art
Metropolitan Museum of Art
The Metropolitan Museum of Art is a renowned art museum in New York City. Its permanent collection contains more than two million works, divided into nineteen curatorial departments. The main building, located on the eastern edge of Central Park along Manhattan's Museum Mile, is one of the...
, Boston Museum of Fine Arts, National Academy of Design
National Academy of Design
The National Academy Museum and School of Fine Arts, founded in New York City as the National Academy of Design – known simply as the "National Academy" – is an honorary association of American artists founded in 1825 by Samuel F. B. Morse, Asher B. Durand, Thomas Cole, Martin E...
, and the Hispanic Museum, as well as museums and galleries from California to Connecticut.