Christopher Pearse Cranch
Encyclopedia
Christopher Pearse Cranch (March 8, 1813 – January 20, 1892) was an American writer and artist.
. He briefly held a position as a Unitarian
minister. Later, he pursued various occupations: a magazine
editor, caricaturist, children's fantasy writer (the Huggermugger books), poet
(The Bird and the Bell with Other Poems in 1875), translator, and landscape painter. He lived most of his life in Cambridge, Massachusetts
.
Though not one of its founding members, Cranch became associated with the Transcendental Club
; his connection with the Transcendentalists
ultimately diminished his demand as a minister. Cranch's caricatures of Ralph Waldo Emerson
were later collected as Illustrations of the New Philosophy: Guide. His poetry was published in The Harbinger
and The Dial
among other publications.
As a painter, Cranch painted landscapes along the lines of Thomas Cole
, the Hudson River school
, and the Barbizon school
in France. In one foray into historical painting, Cranch depicted the burning of P. T. Barnum's American Museum
in New York City. Later in life, Cranch painted scenes from Venice and Italy.
Biography
Cranch was born in the District of Columbia. He attended Columbian College and Harvard Divinity SchoolHarvard Divinity School
Harvard Divinity School is one of the constituent schools of Harvard University, located in Cambridge, Massachusetts, in the United States. The School's mission is to train and educate its students either in the academic study of religion, or for the practice of a religious ministry or other public...
. He briefly held a position as a Unitarian
Unitarianism
Unitarianism is a Christian theological movement, named for its understanding of God as one person, in direct contrast to Trinitarianism which defines God as three persons coexisting consubstantially as one in being....
minister. Later, he pursued various occupations: a magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
editor, caricaturist, children's fantasy writer (the Huggermugger books), poet
Poet
A poet is a person who writes poetry. A poet's work can be literal, meaning that his work is derived from a specific event, or metaphorical, meaning that his work can take on many meanings and forms. Poets have existed since antiquity, in nearly all languages, and have produced works that vary...
(The Bird and the Bell with Other Poems in 1875), translator, and landscape painter. He lived most of his life in Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge, Massachusetts
Cambridge is a city in Middlesex County, Massachusetts, United States, in the Greater Boston area. It was named in honor of the University of Cambridge in England, an important center of the Puritan theology embraced by the town's founders. Cambridge is home to two of the world's most prominent...
.
Though not one of its founding members, Cranch became associated with the Transcendental Club
Transcendental Club
The Transcendental Club was a group of New England intellectuals of the early-to-mid-19th century which gave rise to Transcendentalism.-Overview:...
; his connection with the Transcendentalists
Transcendentalism
Transcendentalism is a philosophical movement that developed in the 1830s and 1840s in the New England region of the United States as a protest against the general state of culture and society, and in particular, the state of intellectualism at Harvard University and the doctrine of the Unitarian...
ultimately diminished his demand as a minister. Cranch's caricatures of Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson
Ralph Waldo Emerson was an American essayist, lecturer, and poet, who led the Transcendentalist movement of the mid-19th century...
were later collected as Illustrations of the New Philosophy: Guide. His poetry was published in The Harbinger
The Phalanx
The Phalanx; or Journal of Social Science is a Fourierist journal published in New York City, edited by Albert Brisbane and Osborne Macdaniel from 1843 to 1845....
and The Dial
The Dial
The Dial was an American magazine published intermittently from 1840 to 1929. In its first form, from 1840 to 1844, it served as the chief publication of the Transcendentalists. In the 1880s it was revived as a political magazine...
among other publications.
As a painter, Cranch painted landscapes along the lines of Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole
Thomas Cole was an English-born American artist. He is regarded as the founder of the Hudson River School, an American art movement that flourished in the mid-19th century...
, 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...
, and the Barbizon school
Barbizon school
The Barbizon school of painters were part of a movement towards realism in art, which arose in the context of the dominant Romantic Movement of the time. The Barbizon school was active roughly from 1830 through 1870...
in France. In one foray into historical painting, Cranch depicted the burning of P. T. Barnum's American Museum
Barnum's American Museum
Barnum's American Museum was located at the corner of Broadway and Ann Street in New York City, USA, from 1841 to 1865. The museum was owned by famous showman P.T. Barnum and his partner and original owner, John Scudder. Prior to their partnership, the museum was known as Scudder's American...
in New York City. Later in life, Cranch painted scenes from Venice and Italy.
Selected works
- Poems (1844)
- The Last of the Huggermuggers, A Giant Story (1855)
- Kobboltozo (1857)
- The Aeneid of Virgil (translation, 1872)
- The Bird and the Bell with Other Poems (1875)
- Ariel and Caliban with Other Poems (1886)
Further reading
- The Life And Letters Of Christopher Pearse Cranch: By His Daughter Lenora Cranch Scott (1917)