George Hand Wright
Encyclopedia
George Hand Wright was an American painter, illustrator and printmaker.
Born in the Fox Chase
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
, the son of a blacksmith, he attended the Spring Garden Institute
, a local technical school, and was apprenticed to a lithographer. He studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
under Robert Vonnoh
, where his classmates included Robert Henri
, John Sloan
and William Glackens
.
He moved to New York City
, and his first illustration appeared in Scribner's Magazine
in 1893. He illustrated a number of books, and his work soon appeared regularly in magazines such as Scribner's, Harper's
, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post
, and others.
In 1907, he settled in Westport, Connecticut
, and became one of the founders of its artistic community. In mid-career, he turned from commercial illustration to watercolors, pastels and etchings.
He exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts
, the Brooklyn Society of Etchers, the Society of American Etchers, and a number of New York galleries. He was a member of the Society of American Etchers, the Society of Illustrators
, the Salmagundi Club
and the Westport Artists. In 1939, he was named to the National Academy of Design
.
Wright died in Westport in 1951.
A biography, George Hand Wright: An Artist's Life Examined by Kirsten M. Jensen, was published in 2008.http://www.amazon.com/George-Hand-Wright-Artists-Examined/dp/1605303453
Born in the Fox Chase
Fox Chase, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Fox Chase is a neighborhood in the Northeast Philadelphia section of the United States city of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. The origin of the name comes from The "Fox Chase Inn" which opened in 1705...
section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the county seat of Philadelphia County, with which it is coterminous. The city is located in the Northeastern United States along the Delaware and Schuylkill rivers. It is the fifth-most-populous city in the United States,...
, the son of a blacksmith, he attended the Spring Garden Institute
Spring Garden College
Spring Garden College, established as the Spring Garden Institute in 1851, was a private technical college founded in Spring Garden, Pennsylvania . Its building at 523-25 North Broad Street was designed by architect Stephen Decatur Button.The college closed in the 1990s...
, a local technical school, and was apprenticed to a lithographer. He studied 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,...
under Robert Vonnoh
Robert Vonnoh
Robert William Vonnoh was an American Impressionist painter known for his portraits and landscapes. He traveled extensively between the East Coast and France, more specifically the artists colony Grez-sur-Loing....
, where his classmates included Robert Henri
Robert Henri
Robert Henri was an American painter and teacher. He was a leading figure of the Ashcan School in art.- Early life :...
, John Sloan
John French Sloan
John French Sloan was an American artist. As a member of The Eight, he became a leading figure in the Ashcan School of realist artists. He was known for his urban genre painting and ability to capture the essence of neighborhood life in New York City, often through his window...
and William Glackens
William Glackens
William James Glackens was an American realist painter.Glackens studied at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts and later moved to New York City, where he co-founded what came to be called the Ashcan School art movement...
.
He moved to 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...
, and his first illustration appeared in Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine
Scribner's Magazine was an American periodical published by the publishing house of Charles Scribner's Sons from January 1887 to May 1939. Scribner's Magazine was the second magazine out of the "Scribner's" firm, after the publication of Scribner's Monthly...
in 1893. He illustrated a number of books, and his work soon appeared regularly in magazines such as Scribner's, Harper's
Harper's Magazine
Harper's Magazine is a monthly magazine of literature, politics, culture, finance, and the arts, with a generally left-wing perspective. It is the second-oldest continuously published monthly magazine in the U.S. . The current editor is Ellen Rosenbush, who replaced Roger Hodge in January 2010...
, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post
The Saturday Evening Post is a bimonthly American magazine. It was published weekly under this title from 1897 until 1969, and quarterly and then bimonthly from 1971.-History:...
, and others.
In 1907, he settled in Westport, Connecticut
Westport, Connecticut
-Neighborhoods:* Saugatuck – around the Westport railroad station near the southwestern corner of the town – a built-up area with some restaurants, stores and offices....
, and became one of the founders of its artistic community. In mid-career, he turned from commercial illustration to watercolors, pastels and etchings.
He exhibited 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,...
, the Brooklyn Society of Etchers, the Society of American Etchers, and a number of New York galleries. He was a member of the Society of American Etchers, the Society of Illustrators
Society of Illustrators
The Society of Illustrators is a professional society based in New York City. Founded in 1901, the mission of the Society is to promote the art and appreciation of illustration, as well as its history...
, the Salmagundi Club
Salmagundi Club
The Salmagundi Club, also known as the Salmagundi Art Club, was founded in 1871 in Greenwich Village, Manhattan, New York City, New York, in the United States. It currently is located at 47 Fifth Avenue...
and the Westport Artists. In 1939, he was named to 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...
.
Wright died in Westport in 1951.
A biography, George Hand Wright: An Artist's Life Examined by Kirsten M. Jensen, was published in 2008.http://www.amazon.com/George-Hand-Wright-Artists-Examined/dp/1605303453