D. Putnam Brinley
Encyclopedia
Daniel Putnam Brinley was an American
muralist and painter. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island
, the son of Edward Huntington Brinley and Rebecca Maitland Porter Brinley. Brinley spent his childhood at his parents' home in Cos Cob, Connecticut
, where he was known affectionately as "Put". During the 1890s, he came to the attention of local artists when he watched them at work. Brinley studied at the Art Students League of New York
from 1900 to 1902. While there, he studied with Bryson Burroughs, Benjamin West Clinedinst
, and Henry Siddons Mowbray
, and was most influenced by Kenyon Cox
and John Henry Twachtman
.
In 1904, Brinley married his childhood friend, Kathrine Gordon Sanger, whom he had begun courting during the 1890s. Kathrine would later achieve fame in her own right as an author of travel books. The two of them spent the next four years traveling through Europe
, including trips to Rome
, Florence
, Venice
, Switzerland
, and Holland. They then spent nearly two years in Paris
, where Daniel was influential in organizing the New Society of American Painters in Paris. Brinley had previously been an impressionist landscape painter under Twachtman's influence, but he studied art independently while abroad and began to gravitate toward the Modernist school of art.
In 1908, the Brinleys returned to the United States, and Daniel established a studio in New York City
. During this period his work was heavily influenced by the modernist movement, with flattened forms and a deeper hued palette. Brinley had his first one-man show at Madison Avenue Galleries in 1910, exhibited at Alfred Stieglitz
's gallery at 291, and helped organize the 1913 Armory Show
. He was also a founding member of the Association of American Painters and Sculptors and the Grand Central Art Galleries
. In 1914 the Brinleys built a home, Datchet House, in New Canaan, Connecticut
, and spent part of each year there for the remainder of their lives. Daniel earned considerable fame and profit for his murals during the 1930s. A biographical sketch of Brinley featured in the 22nd edition of Who's Who in America, issued in the early 1940s, identified him as Republican
and of the Episcopalian
faith.
Daniel Putnam Brinley died on July 31, 1963 in New Canaan, following a brief illness. He was survived only by his wife.
At the time of Brinley's death, many obituaries noted the decorative maps that he created for Liberty Memorial
, in Kansas City, Missouri
. These maps, painted in 1926, continue to be a permanent exhibit in Memory Hall of the National World War I Museum, which is now part of the Memorial site. Brinley also created a mural for the Brooklyn Savings Bank
, for which he was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor of the Architectural League of New York
. Finally, he created the Great Terrestrial Globe that sat in the lobby of the Daily News Building
in New York City.
American Art
American Art is the debut album of the band Weatherbox. It was released on May 8, 2007 on Doghouse Records. The album received critical acclaim from several sources including underground music distribution company Smartpunk, who lauded the band's style:...
muralist and painter. He was born in Newport, Rhode Island
Newport, Rhode Island
Newport is a city on Aquidneck Island in Newport County, Rhode Island, United States, about south of Providence. Known as a New England summer resort and for the famous Newport Mansions, it is the home of Salve Regina University and Naval Station Newport which houses the United States Naval War...
, the son of Edward Huntington Brinley and Rebecca Maitland Porter Brinley. Brinley spent his childhood at his parents' home in Cos Cob, Connecticut
Cos Cob, Connecticut
Cos Cob is a neighborhood and census-designated place in the town of Greenwich, Connecticut. It is located at 41.033 north, 73.6 west, on the Connecticut shoreline in southern Fairfield County. It had a population of 6,770 at the 2010 census....
, where he was known affectionately as "Put". During the 1890s, he came to the attention of local artists when he watched them at work. Brinley studied at the Art Students League of New York
Art Students League of New York
The Art Students League of New York is an art school located on West 57th Street in New York City. The League has historically been known for its broad appeal to both amateurs and professional artists, and has maintained for over 130 years a tradition of offering reasonably priced classes on a...
from 1900 to 1902. While there, he studied with Bryson Burroughs, Benjamin West Clinedinst
Benjamin West Clinedinst
Benjamin West Clinedinst was an American illustrator and painter, born at Staunton, Virginia. He studied for a year in Baltimore and for five years in Paris under Cabanel and Bonnat and first attracted attention in New York with his illustrations for Leslie's Weekly...
, and Henry Siddons Mowbray
Henry Siddons Mowbray
Henry Siddons Mowbray was an American artist.-Biography:He was born of English parents at Alexandria, Egypt. His father, George M. Mowbray, was an expert in explosives. Left an orphan, the son was taken to America by an uncle, who settled at North Adams, Massachusetts...
, and was most influenced by Kenyon Cox
Kenyon Cox
Kenyon Cox was an American painter, illustrator, muralist, writer, and teacher. Cox was an influential and important early instructor at the Art Students League of New York...
and John Henry Twachtman
John Henry Twachtman
John Henry Twachtman was an American painter best known for his impressionist landscapes, though his painting style varied widely through his career. Art historians consider Twachtman's style of American Impressionism to be among the more personal and experimental of his generation...
.
In 1904, Brinley married his childhood friend, Kathrine Gordon Sanger, whom he had begun courting during the 1890s. Kathrine would later achieve fame in her own right as an author of travel books. The two of them spent the next four years traveling through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
, including trips to Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Florence
Florence
Florence is the capital city of the Italian region of Tuscany and of the province of Florence. It is the most populous city in Tuscany, with approximately 370,000 inhabitants, expanding to over 1.5 million in the metropolitan area....
, Venice
Venice
Venice is a city in northern Italy which is renowned for the beauty of its setting, its architecture and its artworks. It is the capital of the Veneto region...
, Switzerland
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
, and Holland. They then spent nearly two years in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where Daniel was influential in organizing the New Society of American Painters in Paris. Brinley had previously been an impressionist landscape painter under Twachtman's influence, but he studied art independently while abroad and began to gravitate toward the Modernist school of art.
In 1908, the Brinleys returned to the United States, and Daniel established a studio 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...
. During this period his work was heavily influenced by the modernist movement, with flattened forms and a deeper hued palette. Brinley had his first one-man show at Madison Avenue Galleries in 1910, exhibited at Alfred Stieglitz
Alfred Stieglitz
Alfred Stieglitz was an American photographer and modern art promoter who was instrumental over his fifty-year career in making photography an accepted art form...
's gallery at 291, and helped organize the 1913 Armory Show
Armory Show
Many exhibitions have been held in the vast spaces of U.S. National Guard armories, but the Armory Show refers to the 1913 International Exhibition of Modern Art that was organized by the Association of American Painters and Sculptors...
. He was also a founding member of the Association of American Painters and Sculptors and the Grand Central Art Galleries
Grand Central Art Galleries
The Grand Central Art Galleries were the exhibition and administrative space of the nonprofit Painters and Sculptors Gallery Association, an artists' cooperative established in 1922 by Walter Leighton Clark together with John Singer Sargent, Edmund Greacen, and others...
. In 1914 the Brinleys built a home, Datchet House, in New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan, Connecticut
New Canaan is a town in Fairfield County, Connecticut, United States, northeast of Stamford, on the Fivemile River. The population was 19,738 according to the 2010 census.The town is one of the most affluent communities in the United States...
, and spent part of each year there for the remainder of their lives. Daniel earned considerable fame and profit for his murals during the 1930s. A biographical sketch of Brinley featured in the 22nd edition of Who's Who in America, issued in the early 1940s, identified him as Republican
Republican Party (United States)
The Republican Party is one of the two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Democratic Party. Founded by anti-slavery expansion activists in 1854, it is often called the GOP . The party's platform generally reflects American conservatism in the U.S...
and of the Episcopalian
Episcopal Church (United States)
The Episcopal Church is a mainline Anglican Christian church found mainly in the United States , but also in Honduras, Taiwan, Colombia, Ecuador, Haiti, the Dominican Republic, Venezuela, the British Virgin Islands and parts of Europe...
faith.
Daniel Putnam Brinley died on July 31, 1963 in New Canaan, following a brief illness. He was survived only by his wife.
Notable works
Liberty Memorial
The Liberty Memorial, located in Kansas City, Missouri, USA, is a memorial to the fallen soldiers of World War I and houses the The National World War I Museum, as designated by the United States Congress in 2004.. Groundbreaking commenced November 1, 1921, and the city held a site dedication...
, in Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri
Kansas City, Missouri is the largest city in the U.S. state of Missouri and is the anchor city of the Kansas City Metropolitan Area, the second largest metropolitan area in Missouri. It encompasses in parts of Jackson, Clay, Cass, and Platte counties...
. These maps, painted in 1926, continue to be a permanent exhibit in Memory Hall of the National World War I Museum, which is now part of the Memorial site. Brinley also created a mural for the Brooklyn Savings Bank
Brooklyn Savings Bank (building)
The Brooklyn Savings Bank was a notable building in Brooklyn, New York, designed by prominent Brooklyn architect Frank Freeman. Completed in 1894, it was considered one of Freeman's finest works, but in spite of its widely recognized architectural significance, the building was demolished in 1964,...
, for which he was awarded the Gold Medal of Honor of the Architectural League of New York
Architectural League of New York
The Architectural League of New York is a non-profit organization "for creative and intellectual work in architecture, urbanism, and related disciplines"....
. Finally, he created the Great Terrestrial Globe that sat in the lobby of the Daily News Building
Daily News Building
The Daily News Building, also known as The News Building, is a Art-Deco skyscraper located at 220 East 42nd Street in Manhattan in New York City. Built in 1929, it was headquarters for the New York Daily News until the mid-1990s...
in New York City.