AMERICAN LANDSCAPE PAINTERSA. H. Wyant
THREE
Many a great artist has begun life in some distasteful branch of trade. Wyant worked for a harness maker. He was born and brought up at Port Washington, Ohio, and though he is said to have sketched flowers and leaves on the kitchen floor during his childhood, and later to have used his spare time in sign painting, he had no real opportunity either of showing his own talent or of seeing pictures by other artists until he was nearly twenty.
A visit to Cincinnati, where he saw the work of George Inness, may be considered the beginning of Wyant’s artistic career. From that time on, his one ambition in life was to be a great painter. He set out for New York City as soon as he could get money enough together, found Inness, and received from the master painter both help and encouragement. Inness saw great possibilities in this Ohio boy.
On his return Wyant made studies of the Ohio Valley, where no artist of any account had ever painted. He threw into his work all the energy and enthusiasm of which his poetic genius was capable.
The year 1865 brought the opportunity to which Wyant had long looked. He was able to go abroad, and study there for awhile in Karlsruhe and London. But the result was somewhat disappointing; for he failed to get the inspiration he expected from contact with European painters.
Another disappointment was in store for him when he undertook, like Moran, to explore the West. Indeed, it was more than a disappointment. He was treated so brutally by the leader of the expedition that on returning he suffered a stroke of paralysis. Although he never entirely recovered, Wyant would not give up the old determination to be a great artist. His right hand useless, the invincible painter learned to use his left, and with it did more perfect work than he had ever done with the other.
It is a fact which cannot be too much regretted that Wyant reached the end of his life before his genius could be perfected. He himself knew that it would be so. “Had I but five years more in which to paint,” he said, “I think I could do the thing I long to.” In the mystic coloring of his Adirondack scenes we catch glimpses of the thing he longed to do.
PREPARED BY THE EDITORIAL STAFF OF THE MENTOR ASSOCIATIONILLUSTRATION FOR THE MENTOR, VOL. 1, No. 26, SERIAL No. 26
IN NATURE’S PLAYGROUND By THOMAS MORAN
IN NATURE’S PLAYGROUND By THOMAS MORAN