A. E. Backus
Encyclopedia
Albert Ernest "Bean" Backus (January 3, 1906 – June 6, 1991) was an American artist famous for his vivid Florida
landscapes.
in 1922-23. At Parsons he learned the academic principles of symmetry and design that he had previously explored instinctually. Backus always earned his living through his artistic talent, first as a commercial artist painting signs, billboards and theater marquees, and later encouraged by Dorothy Binney Putnam, his first true patron, to pursue his landscape paintings as a full-time occupation. He painted vivid Florida
landscapes, 1950's kitsch images of the ubiquitous hibiscus and other tropical flowers, the beautiful Florida sunset, beach and river scenes and the spectacular vistas of the Everglades
.
, he painted in both watercolor and oils scenes of the South Pacific, the California coast and of the European ports he visited. Later in his life, he created a series of scenes of the Caribbean focusing on the Bahamas, Haiti and—most prolifically—of his second home in Jamaica. Backus spent his entire life studying his subjects; it is because of this passion for wildlife and plants combined with his natural talents that he was able to produce such accurate and captivating paintings.
or the Hudson River School
icon Herman Herzog, Backus was the first artist to truly see the subtle beauty of Florida and to attempt to capture it on canvas. Backus was the seminal Florida landscape painter. All those who followed were in some way trying to emulate his work.
, a phenomenon referred to as the Highwaymen
. To be sure, Alfred Hair, one of the driving forces behind the loosely allied group of African-American artists and the inspiration to create hastily rendered images of a fantasized Florida was definitely a student of Backus (though briefly). The remaining members of the approximately 26 African-American landscape painters painting in and around Fort Pierce, Florida
, were certainly inspired by Backus success but they were not actual students of Backus. The Highwaymen directly copied Backus' paintings with varying degrees of success, Harold Newton
being the one who's artistic talents bring him closest to Backus.
musicians jamming. He was known to keep company with Zora Neale Hurston
. The two were known to be very good friends and both had a fervent passion for the youth of the Fort Pierce
area. "Beanie", which he was also affectionately called by some, also kept company with aspiring young artists including Alfred Hair. Backus was known to spend time with people of all walks of life and all races. His Doors were always open to help someone in need. He let young artist stay at his studio galley home for a few weeks if they needed to. There was one young Haitian artist that he meet through a friend that stayed for a few months. He liked to keep a lively conversation and often quoted fellow artist Waldo E. Sexton
"I'd rather be a liar than a bore". Upon his passing in 1991, Backus left a half-finished oil painting now displayed in the Backus Gallery.
in Fort Pierce, Florida
as well as internet art galleries and bricks and mortar galleries located mainly in Florida.
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
landscapes.
Early influences
Beanie was mostly self taught, although he did enjoy two summer stints at the Parsons School of Design in New York CityNew 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...
in 1922-23. At Parsons he learned the academic principles of symmetry and design that he had previously explored instinctually. Backus always earned his living through his artistic talent, first as a commercial artist painting signs, billboards and theater marquees, and later encouraged by Dorothy Binney Putnam, his first true patron, to pursue his landscape paintings as a full-time occupation. He painted vivid Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
landscapes, 1950's kitsch images of the ubiquitous hibiscus and other tropical flowers, the beautiful Florida sunset, beach and river scenes and the spectacular vistas of the Everglades
Everglades
The Everglades are subtropical wetlands in the southern portion of the U.S. state of Florida, comprising the southern half of a large watershed. The system begins near Orlando with the Kissimmee River, which discharges into the vast but shallow Lake Okeechobee...
.
World War II paintings
Much like a visual journal of his travels, Backus recorded his journeys through his artwork. During WWII, while in the Navy aboard the USS HermitageSS Conte Biancamano
Conte Biancamano was an Italian liner launched in 1925. The name was chosen in honor of Humbert I Biancamano, founder of the Savoy. She was built in the Scottish shipyards named William Beardmore & Co. in Dalmuir around Glasgow. She was built for the Genovese shipping company named Lloyd Sabaudo...
, he painted in both watercolor and oils scenes of the South Pacific, the California coast and of the European ports he visited. Later in his life, he created a series of scenes of the Caribbean focusing on the Bahamas, Haiti and—most prolifically—of his second home in Jamaica. Backus spent his entire life studying his subjects; it is because of this passion for wildlife and plants combined with his natural talents that he was able to produce such accurate and captivating paintings.
Impressionistic works
Many of Backus' earlier paintings dating from the 1930s to the late 1960s are categorized as being more impressionistic than most of his later works and were often done with a palette knife. Paint was applied to the canvas or board with impetuous and generous strokes. The palette knife was used deftly and with great boldness. The juxtaposition of color next to color created a new and different reality for the viewer. Other than the early 20th century vacationing artists such as Winslow HomerWinslow Homer
Winslow Homer was an American landscape painter and printmaker, best known for his marine subjects. He is considered one of the foremost painters in 19th century America and a preeminent figure in American art....
or the Hudson River School
Hudson River school
The Hudson River School was a mid-19th century American art movement embodied by a group of landscape painters whose aesthetic vision was influenced by romanticism...
icon Herman Herzog, Backus was the first artist to truly see the subtle beauty of Florida and to attempt to capture it on canvas. Backus was the seminal Florida landscape painter. All those who followed were in some way trying to emulate his work.
Later works
As Backus's career progressed, his style evolved into a more refined style that relied more heavily on the brush rather than the palette knife. He spent more time on his later, more romanticized paintings—adding more details and increasingly painting commission pieces for patrons eager to own a Backus-original for themselves.The Florida Highwaymen
Backus is also credited with teaching art to a wide range of students. No one knows how many artists actually studied with Backus or were merely mentored or inspired by him. Estimates put the number in the hundreds. Backus's protegees are referred to as "the Indian River School" of artists. A great deal of misinformation circulates as to Backus's role in the creation of the outsider artOutsider Art
The term outsider art was coined by art critic Roger Cardinal in 1972 as an English synonym for art brut , a label created by French artist Jean Dubuffet to describe art created outside the boundaries of official culture; Dubuffet focused particularly on art by insane-asylum inmates.While...
, a phenomenon referred to as the Highwaymen
The Highwaymen (artists)
The Highwaymen, also referred to as the Florida Highwaymen, are a group of 26 named and listed landscape artists who have been called "The Last Great American Art Movement of the 20TH century"...
. To be sure, Alfred Hair, one of the driving forces behind the loosely allied group of African-American artists and the inspiration to create hastily rendered images of a fantasized Florida was definitely a student of Backus (though briefly). The remaining members of the approximately 26 African-American landscape painters painting in and around Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
, were certainly inspired by Backus success but they were not actual students of Backus. The Highwaymen directly copied Backus' paintings with varying degrees of success, Harold Newton
Harold Newton
Harold Newton was a central and founding member of the loose-knit group of African American artists known as the Florida Highwaymen. Although Newton and the other Highwaymen were not part of an organized school, all were influenced by the work of Florida landscape artist A.E. Backus and shared a...
being the one who's artistic talents bring him closest to Backus.
Hobbies
Backus was known for always having music playing in his home. He often had his record player playing, and some times even had JazzJazz
Jazz is a musical style that originated at the beginning of the 20th century in African American communities in the Southern United States. It was born out of a mix of African and European music traditions. From its early development until the present, jazz has incorporated music from 19th and 20th...
musicians jamming. He was known to keep company with Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston
Zora Neale Hurston was an American folklorist, anthropologist, and author during the time of the Harlem Renaissance...
. The two were known to be very good friends and both had a fervent passion for the youth of the Fort Pierce
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
area. "Beanie", which he was also affectionately called by some, also kept company with aspiring young artists including Alfred Hair. Backus was known to spend time with people of all walks of life and all races. His Doors were always open to help someone in need. He let young artist stay at his studio galley home for a few weeks if they needed to. There was one young Haitian artist that he meet through a friend that stayed for a few months. He liked to keep a lively conversation and often quoted fellow artist Waldo E. Sexton
Waldo E. Sexton
Waldo E. Sexton was an entrepreneur whose enterprises have attracted visitors to Vero Beach, Florida since the 1930s and remain of value to the community, industry, tourists, artists, historians and horticulturalists. He was named to the list of Great Floridians by the Florida Department of State...
"I'd rather be a liar than a bore". Upon his passing in 1991, Backus left a half-finished oil painting now displayed in the Backus Gallery.
Family
Backus, who was, during his young adulthood, a confirmed bachelor married a woman twenty years his junior in 1951. His wife, Patsy (1926–1955) died at the age of 29 after having open heart surgery. They never had any children together, but "Beanie" had many other "children". There were at least 20 kids over the years that he would mentor and help put through college that spent time at his home after school and on weekends that were known as "Backus Brats". Outside of the "Brats", There were still a few hundred more children over his years as an artist and philanthropist that he would have an strong influence upon during his lifetime.Backus Gallery
Much of Backus 's work is now on display at the A. E. Backus Gallery & MuseumA. E. Backus Gallery & Museum
The A. E. Backus Gallery & Museum is located at 500 North Indian River Drive, Fort Pierce, Florida. This museum houses artwork by A. E. Backus and other Florida artists. The museum contains the largest collection of paintings by A. E. Backus, a preeminent Florida landscape painter....
in Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, Florida
Fort Pierce, also spelled Ft. Pierce, is a city in St. Lucie County, Florida, USA. It is known as The Sunrise City. The population was 37,959 at the 2004 census. As of 2008, the population recorded by the U.S. Census Bureau is 41,000. It is the county seat of St. Lucie County.Fort Pierce is part...
as well as internet art galleries and bricks and mortar galleries located mainly in Florida.