Fred Wagner
Encyclopedia
Fred Wagner, born Frederick R. Wagner (December 20, 1860 – January 14, 1940) was one of the earliest of the Pennsylvania impressionists
. He was born in Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania
, grew up in Norristown
, and spent most of his life in Philadelphia painting its harbors, bridges, parks, train stations and ports.
Wagner studied with Thomas Eakins
at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
beginning in 1878. Before he graduated, Wagner was chosen to teach alongside Eakins as Demonstrator of Anatomy starting in 1882.
Wagner's works were in the annual exhibitions of the Pennsylvania Academy first in 1882 and consistently every year from 1906 to 1940, and in the biennial exhibitions of the Corcoran Gallery of Art
, Washington D.C., between 1907 and 1935. He was awarded the Pennsylvania Academy's fellowship prize in 1914, and in 1922 he won an honorable mention at the international exhibition of the Carnegie Institute
in Pittsburgh.
Wagner left the Academy in 1886 to take a tour of western towns and to paint portraits.
Upon his return to Philadelphia, he worked as an illustrator for the Philadelphia Press
until 1902. He was later asked to teach at PAFA's Chester Springs School, a position he held for seven years. Then he started a school in Addingham in 1912. Some of Wagner’s notable students at PAFA were: Elizabeth Washington (1871–1953) and John Weygandt (1869–1951). This school lasted more than twenty-five years, with classes eventually being conducted in the Fuller Building in Philadelphia.
Wagner married Eva Wilmot in 1913, his model for an unknown number of paintings including one titled "Smoking Lady." This was also the year of the notorious Armory Show in New York City for which two of Wagner's works were accepted.
"Wag" became a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club
in 1897 and remained a lifelong member there. Wagner was a member of the Philadelphia Art Alliance
for many years and had shows devoted to his work there before and after he died.
In the summers between 1903 and 1913, Wagner lived in Island Heights, New Jersey
where James Moore Bryant supported him. Bryant was an engraver Wagner had met at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Other summers were spent in Ocean City, New Jersey
where he painted portraits of his niece, Marguerite Brendlinger and her five daughters, along with ocean and beach scenes.
Fred Wagner painted all his life, and although only making a modest living as an artist, his work was entered and accepted into some of the most prestigious art exhibitions of the time. He won many awards for his work and his paintings were (or are) in numerous museums including the Philadelphia Museum of Art
, Reading Museum, Woodmere Art Museum
, James A. Michener Art Museum
, St Louis Art Museum, Sewell E. Biggs Museum of American Art, Farnsworth Art Museum
and Penn State University Museum.
Wagner's paintings are also in galleries and the homes of art collectors nationwide.
Pennsylvania Impressionism
Pennsylvania Impressionism refers to an American Impressionist movement from the first half of the 20th century that was centered in and around Bucks County, Pennsylvania, particularly the area around the town of New Hope...
. He was born in Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania
Port Kennedy, Pennsylvania
Port Kennedy was an industrial village located where U.S. Route 422 now crosses the Schuylkill River in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, United States of America...
, grew up in Norristown
Norristown, Pennsylvania
Norristown is a municipality in Montgomery County, Pennsylvania, northwest of the city limits of Philadelphia, on the Schuylkill River. The population was 34,324 as of the 2010 census. It is the county seat of Montgomery County...
, and spent most of his life in Philadelphia painting its harbors, bridges, parks, train stations and ports.
Wagner studied with Thomas Eakins
Thomas Eakins
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator...
at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
The Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts is a museum and art school in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was founded in 1805 and is the oldest art museum and school in the United States. The academy's museum is internationally known for its collections of 19th and 20th century American paintings,...
beginning in 1878. Before he graduated, Wagner was chosen to teach alongside Eakins as Demonstrator of Anatomy starting in 1882.
Wagner's works were in the annual exhibitions of the Pennsylvania Academy first in 1882 and consistently every year from 1906 to 1940, and in the biennial exhibitions of the Corcoran Gallery of Art
Corcoran Gallery of Art
The Corcoran Gallery of Art is the largest privately supported cultural institution in Washington, DC. The museum's main focus is American art. The permanent collection includes works by Rembrandt, Eugène Delacroix, Edgar Degas, Thomas Gainsborough, John Singer Sargent, Claude Monet, Pablo...
, Washington D.C., between 1907 and 1935. He was awarded the Pennsylvania Academy's fellowship prize in 1914, and in 1922 he won an honorable mention at the international exhibition of the Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institute
Carnegie Institute can refer to:*Carnegie Institute, operator of the Carnegie Museums of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania*Carnegie Institution for Science , Washington, D.C....
in Pittsburgh.
Wagner left the Academy in 1886 to take a tour of western towns and to paint portraits.
Upon his return to Philadelphia, he worked as an illustrator for the Philadelphia Press
Philadelphia Press
The Philadelphia Press is a defunct newspaper that was published from August 1, 1857 to October 1, 1920.The paper was founded by John W. Forney. Charles Emory Smith was editor and owned a stake in the paper from 1880 until his death in 1908...
until 1902. He was later asked to teach at PAFA's Chester Springs School, a position he held for seven years. Then he started a school in Addingham in 1912. Some of Wagner’s notable students at PAFA were: Elizabeth Washington (1871–1953) and John Weygandt (1869–1951). This school lasted more than twenty-five years, with classes eventually being conducted in the Fuller Building in Philadelphia.
Wagner married Eva Wilmot in 1913, his model for an unknown number of paintings including one titled "Smoking Lady." This was also the year of the notorious Armory Show in New York City for which two of Wagner's works were accepted.
"Wag" became a member of the Philadelphia Sketch Club
Philadelphia Sketch Club
The Philadelphia Sketch Club, founded on November 20, 1860, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is one of America’s oldest artists' clubs. The club's own web page proclaims it the oldest. Prominent members have included Joseph Pennell, Thomas Eakins, Howard Chandler Christy, and N.C...
in 1897 and remained a lifelong member there. Wagner was a member of the Philadelphia Art Alliance
Philadelphia Art Alliance
The Philadelphia Art Alliance is a multidisciplinary arts center located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood. It is the oldest multidisciplinary arts center in the United States for visual, literary and performing arts...
for many years and had shows devoted to his work there before and after he died.
In the summers between 1903 and 1913, Wagner lived in Island Heights, New Jersey
Island Heights, New Jersey
Island Heights is a Borough in Ocean County, New Jersey, United States. As of the 2010 United States Census, the borough population was 1,673....
where James Moore Bryant supported him. Bryant was an engraver Wagner had met at the Philadelphia Sketch Club. Other summers were spent in Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City, New Jersey
Ocean City is a city in Cape May County, New Jersey, United States. It is the principal city of the Ocean City Metropolitan Statistical Area which encompasses all of Cape May County. As of the 2010 United States Census, the city population was 11,701...
where he painted portraits of his niece, Marguerite Brendlinger and her five daughters, along with ocean and beach scenes.
Fred Wagner painted all his life, and although only making a modest living as an artist, his work was entered and accepted into some of the most prestigious art exhibitions of the time. He won many awards for his work and his paintings were (or are) in numerous museums including the Philadelphia Museum of Art
Philadelphia Museum of Art
The Philadelphia Museum of Art is among the largest art museums in the United States. It is located at the west end of the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia's Fairmount Park. The Museum was established in 1876 in conjunction with the Centennial Exposition of the same year...
, Reading Museum, Woodmere Art Museum
Woodmere Art Museum
Woodmere Art Museum, located in the Chestnut Hill section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, has a collection of paintings, prints, sculpture and photographs focusing on artists from the Delaware Valley and includes works by Thomas Pollock Anshutz, Severo Antonelli, Jasper Francis Cropsey , Daniel...
, James A. Michener Art Museum
James A. Michener Art Museum
The James A. Michener Art Museum is a private, non-profit museum in Doylestown, Bucks County, Pennsylvania founded in 1988 and named for the Pulitzer Prize–winning writer James A. Michener, a Doylestown resident...
, St Louis Art Museum, Sewell E. Biggs Museum of American Art, Farnsworth Art Museum
Farnsworth Art Museum
The Farnsworth Art Museum in Rockland, Maine, United States, is an art museum that specializes in American art. Its permanent collection includes works by such artists as Gilbert Stuart, Thomas Sully, Thomas Eakins, Eastman Johnson, Fitz Henry Lane, Frank Benson, Childe Hassam, and Maurice...
and Penn State University Museum.
Wagner's paintings are also in galleries and the homes of art collectors nationwide.
Further reading
- Smith, Cyndy Drue and Susan Brendlinger (2010). Fred Wagner An American Painter (1860–1940) xLibris Corporation ISBN 978-1-4415-8023-8
- Alterman, James M. New Hope for American Art. Jim’s of Lambertville ISBN 0-9772665-0-8
- Peterson, Brian H. (Editor) (2002). Pennsylvania Impressionism. Philadelphia: James A. Michener Art Museum and University of Pennsylvania Press. ISBN 0-8122-3700-5.