Joshua Johnson
Encyclopedia
Joshua Johnson was an American biracial
painter from the Baltimore area. Johnson, often viewed as the first person of color to make a living as a painter in the United States
, is known for his naïve paintings of prominent Maryland residents.
released newly found manuscripts regarding Johnson's life.
Documents dated from July 25, 1782, states that Johnson was the "son of a white man and a black slave woman owned by a William Wheeler, Sr." His father, George Johnson (also spelled Johnston in some documents) purchased Joshua, age 19, from William Wheeler, a small Baltimore based farmer, confirmed by a bill of sale
dating from October 6, 1764. Wheeler sold Johnson the young man for £25, half the average price of a male slave field hand at the time. The documents state little of Joshua's mother, not even her name, and she may have been owned by Wheeler, whose own records stated that he owned two female slaves, one who had two children.
A manumission
was also released, in which George Johnson acknowledged Joshua as his son, also stating that he would agree to free Joshua under the conditions that he either completed an apprenticeship
with Baltimore blacksmith
William Forepaugh or turned 21, whichever came first. Oddly enough, the manumission was signed and confirmed by justice of the peace
Colonel John Moale whom would, during the years of 1798-1800, commission Joshua to paint a portrait of his wife and granddaughter. (Mrs. John Moale and Her Granddaughter Ellin North Moale)
as of 1796. He moved frequently, residing often where other artists, specifically chair-makers
lived, which suggests that he may have provided extra income for himself by painting chairs. His frequent moving also may suggest that he tended to work for clients whom he lived by. No records mention educational or creative training and it still has not been proven that he had any type of relationship with artists such as the Peale
family or Ralph Earl or Ralph Earl Jr.
In 1785 he married his first wife, Sarah, whom had four children with him – two sons and two daughters, the latter both died young. By 1803 he was married to a Clara. According to the Baltimore city directory of 1817-1818 he was listed in the section “Free Householders of Colour,” and in 1825 he had moved to Frederick County, Maryland
, and two years later moved to Anne Arundel County, again, following the paths of those whose portraits he painted. Little is known of his life after this final move, and his death.
, who's naive painting and less sophisticated work (compared to his other family members) is similar to Johnson's. His work, however, is more similar to less known limners
who worked during the same time in the mid-Atlantic region: John Drinker
, Frederick Kemmelmeyer, Jacob Frymire and Caleb Boyle. In fact, Johnson may have been more than familiar with the work of these artists than thought; in 1818 he was commissioned by patron Rebecca Myring Everette to copy Boyle's 1807 portrait of her husband, Thomas Everett.
Johnson’s work has also been compared to Ralph Earl, who, like Johnson, also utilized brass upholstery tacks, swagged curtains and open window vistas in his paintings. However, a stronger comparison lies between Johnson and Earl’s son, Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
. Both were noted for painting multi-figure family group portraits, which were rare during this period of American art
. Both considered prominent self-taught “folk” artists, it can only be theorized if the two ever came into contact within similar circles.
), Johnson depicts the male children of Margaret and John Westwood, who was a successful Baltimore stagecoach manufacturer. The painting is stylized and depicts the three children holding flowers in their hands, accompanied by the family dog which holds a bird in its mouth. The children have chilled expressionless stares, although the youngest child seems to be on the verge of smiling. Johnson was not entirely successful in creating a compositional balance between the children, positioned at the left, and their black dog and an alcove on the right.
Mulatto
Mulatto denotes a person with one white parent and one black parent, or more broadly, a person of mixed black and white ancestry. Contemporary usage of the term varies greatly, and the broader sense of the term makes its application rather subjective, as not all people of mixed white and black...
painter from the Baltimore area. Johnson, often viewed as the first person of color to make a living as a painter in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, is known for his naïve paintings of prominent Maryland residents.
Mysterious life
It was not until 1939 that the identity of the painter of elite 19th century Baltimoreans was shed to light by art historian and genealogist J. Hall Pleasants, who believed that thirteen portraits were painted by one Joshua Johnson. Pleasants attempted to put the puzzle of Johnson's life together, however, questions on Johnson's race, life dates and even his last name (Johnson or Johnston) remained. These questions remained up until the mid-1990s, when the Maryland Historical SocietyMaryland Historical Society
The Maryland Historical Society , founded in 1844, is the oldest cultural institution in the U.S. state of Maryland. The society "collects, preserves, and interprets objects and materials reflecting Maryland's diverse heritage." MdHS has a museum, library, holds educational programs, and publishes...
released newly found manuscripts regarding Johnson's life.
Documents dated from July 25, 1782, states that Johnson was the "son of a white man and a black slave woman owned by a William Wheeler, Sr." His father, George Johnson (also spelled Johnston in some documents) purchased Joshua, age 19, from William Wheeler, a small Baltimore based farmer, confirmed by a bill of sale
Bill of sale
A bill of sale is a legal document made by a 'seller' to a purchaser, reporting that on a specific date, at a specific locality, and for a particular sum of money or other "value received", the seller sold to the purchaser a specific item of personal, or parcel of real, property of which he had...
dating from October 6, 1764. Wheeler sold Johnson the young man for £25, half the average price of a male slave field hand at the time. The documents state little of Joshua's mother, not even her name, and she may have been owned by Wheeler, whose own records stated that he owned two female slaves, one who had two children.
A manumission
Manumission
Manumission is the act of a slave owner freeing his or her slaves. In the United States before the passage of the Thirteenth Amendment to the United States Constitution, which abolished most slavery, this often happened upon the death of the owner, under conditions in his will.-Motivations:The...
was also released, in which George Johnson acknowledged Joshua as his son, also stating that he would agree to free Joshua under the conditions that he either completed an apprenticeship
Apprenticeship
Apprenticeship is a system of training a new generation of practitioners of a skill. Apprentices or protégés build their careers from apprenticeships...
with Baltimore blacksmith
Blacksmith
A blacksmith is a person who creates objects from wrought iron or steel by forging the metal; that is, by using tools to hammer, bend, and cut...
William Forepaugh or turned 21, whichever came first. Oddly enough, the manumission was signed and confirmed by justice of the peace
Justice of the Peace
A justice of the peace is a puisne judicial officer elected or appointed by means of a commission to keep the peace. Depending on the jurisdiction, they might dispense summary justice or merely deal with local administrative applications in common law jurisdictions...
Colonel John Moale whom would, during the years of 1798-1800, commission Joshua to paint a portrait of his wife and granddaughter. (Mrs. John Moale and Her Granddaughter Ellin North Moale)
Freedom
Johnson received his freedom in 1782 and began advertising; stating himself as a portrait painter and limnerLimner
A limner is an illuminator of manuscripts, or more generally, a painter of ornamental decoration. One of the earliest mentions of a limner's work is found in the book Methods and Materials of Painting by Charles Lock Eastlake .-Scotland:...
as of 1796. He moved frequently, residing often where other artists, specifically chair-makers
Chair-maker
Since the mid-17th century a chair-maker is a craftsman in the furniture trades specializing in chairs. Before that time seats were made by joiners, turners, and coffermakers, and woven seats were made by basketmakers...
lived, which suggests that he may have provided extra income for himself by painting chairs. His frequent moving also may suggest that he tended to work for clients whom he lived by. No records mention educational or creative training and it still has not been proven that he had any type of relationship with artists such as the Peale
Charles Willson Peale
Charles Willson Peale was an American painter, soldier and naturalist. He is best remembered for his portrait paintings of leading figures of the American Revolution, as well as establishing one of the first museums....
family or Ralph Earl or Ralph Earl Jr.
In 1785 he married his first wife, Sarah, whom had four children with him – two sons and two daughters, the latter both died young. By 1803 he was married to a Clara. According to the Baltimore city directory of 1817-1818 he was listed in the section “Free Householders of Colour,” and in 1825 he had moved to Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County, Maryland
Frederick County is a county located in the western part of the U.S. state of Maryland, bordering the southern border of Pennsylvania and the northeastern border of Virginia. As of the 2010 Census, the population was 233,385....
, and two years later moved to Anne Arundel County, again, following the paths of those whose portraits he painted. Little is known of his life after this final move, and his death.
Style
Recent research has brought to light that Johnson was not associated with the Peale family, however, his work is still associated with names such as Charles Peale PolkCharles Peale Polk
Charles Peale Polk was a renowned American portrait painter and the nephew of artist Charles Willson Peale.-Biography:...
, who's naive painting and less sophisticated work (compared to his other family members) is similar to Johnson's. His work, however, is more similar to less known limners
Limner
A limner is an illuminator of manuscripts, or more generally, a painter of ornamental decoration. One of the earliest mentions of a limner's work is found in the book Methods and Materials of Painting by Charles Lock Eastlake .-Scotland:...
who worked during the same time in the mid-Atlantic region: John Drinker
John Drinker
-Biography:John Drinker was born on March 12, 1760 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. His parents were John Drinker and Susanna Allen Drinker . His father made a number of successful real estate investments in Philadelphia, including the property known as Drinker's Court...
, Frederick Kemmelmeyer, Jacob Frymire and Caleb Boyle. In fact, Johnson may have been more than familiar with the work of these artists than thought; in 1818 he was commissioned by patron Rebecca Myring Everette to copy Boyle's 1807 portrait of her husband, Thomas Everett.
Johnson’s work has also been compared to Ralph Earl, who, like Johnson, also utilized brass upholstery tacks, swagged curtains and open window vistas in his paintings. However, a stronger comparison lies between Johnson and Earl’s son, Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl
Ralph Eleaser Whiteside Earl , also known as Ralph E. W. Earl or Ralph Eleazer Whiteside Earl, was an American painter known as the "court painter" to President Andrew Jackson....
. Both were noted for painting multi-figure family group portraits, which were rare during this period of American art
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:...
. Both considered prominent self-taught “folk” artists, it can only be theorized if the two ever came into contact within similar circles.
The Westwood Children
In his painting, The Westwood Children (now in the National Gallery of ArtNational Gallery of Art
The National Gallery of Art and its Sculpture Garden is a national art museum, located on the National Mall between 3rd and 9th Streets at Constitution Avenue NW, in Washington, DC...
), Johnson depicts the male children of Margaret and John Westwood, who was a successful Baltimore stagecoach manufacturer. The painting is stylized and depicts the three children holding flowers in their hands, accompanied by the family dog which holds a bird in its mouth. The children have chilled expressionless stares, although the youngest child seems to be on the verge of smiling. Johnson was not entirely successful in creating a compositional balance between the children, positioned at the left, and their black dog and an alcove on the right.
External links
- The Westwood Children. The National Gallery of Art. Retrieved 2004-05-15