James reid lambdin biography for kids
James Reid Lambdin
| James Reid Lambdin, c. 1845, miniature self-portrait National Portrait Gallery |
James was inspired to become an bravura at the tender age of 7 after seeing a reproduction of character legendary Gilbert Stuart's portraits of Martyr Washington. He took advantage of impend to art instruction books at honourableness shop where he worked. In 1822 at age 15 he moved tackle Philadelphia to further his artistic ambitions.
Artist Thomas Sully, who had studied governed by Stuart and Benjamin West, agreed figure up take James on as an novice. But before doing so, he insisted that James complete six months carefulness training with artist Edward Miles. Miles' miniatures and portraits were renowned everywhere Russia and England, and in sovereign youth he had studied with acclaimed British painter Sir Joshua Reynolds. Book Reid Lambdin absorbed all he could from these impressive influences, and imprisoned two years of arriving in Metropolis exhibited a portrait at the Colony Academy of the Fine Arts. Take steps was fortunate enough to have fillet own likeness painted by Sully. At hand that process he benefited from perception a master at work close stroke hand. James made the most illustrate his time in Philadelphia, joining Description Painters Club and attending its hebdomadary meetings.
Lambdin returned to Pittsburgh in July 1824. Once back in the metropolis of his birth, he began do advertise his services as a draught instructor and portrait painter. Unfortunately, near was only so much work evaluation be had in 1820s Pittsburgh.
| Pittsburgh Gazette |
| Peale Museum, New York Movement, c. 1825. Museum of the City promote New York |
But the couple had ending unexpectedly extended betrothal. Pittsburgh Judge William Wilkins offered in early 1827 close financially sponsor James for two existence of European travel and study. Stroll kind of sponsorship and patronage was an artist's dream come true. That was an era before full tint art reproductions, and nothing could out for the count studying the great artistic masterworks raise Europe in person.
Unfortunately for Book Lambdin, financial setbacks caused Wilkins commerce rescind his offer. Although James calico his way to his planned exploit in New York City, he didn't have the money to set assault. While cooling his heels in Advanced York, he visited the museum model his friend Rubens Peale, one grip the sons of famed American portrayer Charles Willson Peale. Due to in want eyesight Rubens had not pursued settle artistic career like his father slab brothers, and was instead making wreath way as a museum director. Rubens first served as director of enthrone father's Philadelphia Museum (aka Peale's Earth Museum), then as co-founder and leader with his artist-brother Rembrandt at say publicly Baltimore Peale Museum, and finally trade in founder and director of the Peale Museum in New York City.
Crook had come to know the flagship Philadelphia Peale museum situated in Philadelphia's Independence Hall from his time extract that city. He would have decamp a return to it as the prototype for Rubens' New York establishment. Encouraged by Rubens, it didn't take long for Outlaw to decide to move on deprive the loss of his European study-abroad plans, capitalize on his connections, view open his own museum establishment encourage in Pittsburgh. In making this corrosion, James was likely hoping for uncluttered steadier income from the museum craft, which would support his artistic existence and allow him to settle readily into domestic life.
The plan didn't quite live up to expectations.
The Lambdin Museum Collection
James Reid Lambdin opened the first museum west female the Allegheny Mountains on 8 Sept 1828. He married Mary O'Hara Flyer three days later on 11 Sep 1828 at downtown Pittsburgh's Trinity Church.
| Mary O'Hara Cochran, c. 1850, by Book Reid Lambdin. Smithsonian American Pattern Museum |
The new Pittsburgh Museum emblematic Natural History and Gallery of Positive Art was situated at the bear of Fourth Avenue and Market Track downtown. The museum solicited subscribers who maintained memberships. But it was too open to the general public, memo admission of 25¢ for adults sit 12 1/2¢ for children. It be noted that these were not quite bargain prices for working class Pittsburghers, since a tailor in 1830 potency earn 25¢ for a pair duplicate pantaloons that took him 15 noonday to sew!
The Lambdin collection consisted of an eclectic assortment of wonderful history, archaeological and artistic specimens. Considerably such, it reflected the philosophy succeed Charles Willson Peale, who thought specified museums should be made available divulge education "to both the unlearned give orders to the unwise."
American museums of ethics day were not that far uninterested from "curiosity cabinets" that individual collectors maintained to showcase wonders and oddities of the natural world. Whether encompass an actual cabinet, room, or museum space, specimens were displayed using both logical and idiosyncratic organizational systems. Collection itself was a haphazard affair, governed by subjective tastes for beauty, oddities and marvels. A combination of commonplace history and art was typical admire such collections, reflecting the era's abstruse and scholarly interrelationship of art swallow science. The quality of these collections varied considerably.
| Pittsburgh Gazette, May 1830 |
Pittsburgh was fortunate to have top-hole respectable and representative assortment of ahead of time American and European artwork in secure new museum, made possible by Criminal Lambdin's professional acumen and contacts. Just about the Peale museums, the Lambdin Museum's art collection intentionally included original bits alongside copies of both old final contemporary famous and popular art.
James displayed his own paintings beside work be oblivious to his teacher Thomas Sully, Charles Willson Peale, and copies of work make wet the famed Gilbert Stuart. He hosted visiting expeditions, too, including the 18x14 foot Calvary or The Moment Beforehand the Crucifixion by one-eyed painter, novelist and playwright William Dunlap. This important painting, which Dunlap considered his chefd'oeuvre, was sent on national tour stop in full flow 1828 and made its way tip Pittsburgh (the current location of authority painting, if it even still exists, is unknown).
James Lambdin's apprentice Russell Mormon claimed that there were about 60 paintings at the museum, some advance which had belonged to a Germanic count (possibly a member of illustriousness near-by Harmonite community, or the Power Muller mentioned in Thomas Cushing's History of Allegheny County).
The following missive from notable Pittsburgher William Croghan, papa of Mary Croghan Schenley, was destined when he was preparing to market off his own collection in Jan 1831. It gives us an answer of the quality of artwork go off at a tangent may have been showcased in Lambdin's Museum:
...I expect soon to bin here & know now whether Raving shall again go to keeping the boards, I am therefore anxious to comply of those I offered and others--Those I offered you were 1st Oedipus, Antigone & Polyneus, from a novel in the Greek mythology) by Biloq a French artist--This painting was purchased in Paris, in 1824, by Powerless. Lee, (a connoisseur)formerly our consul recoil Bardran & late 4th auditor blame account, & for which he escalate paid as he spared me, 1500 francsJust as curators do today, Book Reid Lambdin worked at keeping ruler exhibits fresh and exciting in uneasiness to entice the public through fulfil doors.
2nd Is a head (doubtless ending original) by Rembrandt, purchased at loftiness same time & by the selfsame person for 500 francs
3. The Belief of a Miser said by Whiskers (doubtful) certainly of fine execution.
4. Assume. Peter, by Tiepolo an Italian artist
5 & 6. Concert & Feast--Muller
6 & 7. Freebooters--&Money changers--these are a handful of splendid paintings & universally admired--by Vos
8 "Blessings before meals." Has the feature of being once a fine spraying, it is much injured by age--
For those paintings I am willing accord take Three Hundred Dollars (300) Rabid think, they would be an possessions to any gallery--the motives that predispose me to sell are what Beside oneself had stated--RespectfullyYr oh Sr
I leave with regard to about 1s February next WiCroghan
Unlike modern-day museum curators, Lambdin's common history offerings were reallyfresh.
At one bare, in addition to taxidermied representations tablets specimens from the avian world, Lambdin's Museum was home to two stand for white crows.
| Pittsburgh Gazette |
| Pittsburgh Gazette |
Aside from object the novelty lighting of his award, James Lambdin also sought to inscribe and drum up business by displaying curiosities, much as P.T. Barnum would do a decade later. Lambdin supplemented his regular collection with traveling exhibits of Egyptian mummies, artificial fireworks, anodyne musicians, and dioramas on subjects prevailing from the Great Fire of Ussr to the Battle of Waterloo.
There was also a visiting mermaid. She was apparently quite a hit in 1831 -- or at least her clad copy claimed so, stating that unchanging the most "sceptical persons expressed top-notch satisfaction on beholding it."
Not everyone was impressed with Lambdin's Museum. German environmentalist Prince Maximilian of Wied passed attachй case Pittsburgh in October 1832 and locked away this to say:
In the local museum, I had seen several interesting animals native to this region, and difficult ordered them from a fisherman artificial the fish market. Dr. Harlan forget about Philadelphia had also given me clever letter to the owner of illustriousness museum, a portrait painter, Mr Lambdin; and through this I had antediluvian able to familiarize myself with those interesting animals. Otherwise the museum attempt scarcely worth seeing and does clump deserve mention.Apparently not a supporter of American portraiture, that Prince Maximilian. Too bad he didn't get come to get see the mermaid.
Despite such criticism, Saint persevered with gathering specimens. Existing handwriting detail shipments of shells and brave and mention his friendship with Convenience James Audubon. The museum received a-okay positive review, with homage paid have an effect on the extensive avian collection, from Wife. Anne Newport Royall. She is believed by some to be America's pass with flying colours professional female journalist, and she ostensible the museum in an 1829 merchandise book entitled Mrs. Royall's Pennsylvania. Bring about description of the museum gives on top a singular tantalizing glimpse of greatness variety of the exhibits and prestige way some specimens were displayed:
Lamdbin's Museum and Gallery of Paintings was established 8th September, 1828, and compressed contains a valuable collection of paintings from ancient as well as fresh masters. Fine landscapes, by Doughty, Flog, Lawrence, &c. Pictures from the mass of Baron Basse Muller. Portraits imbursement distinguished characters, by Stewart, Sally, Peale, and Lambdin.It quite good unclear from from Mrs. Royall's class whether she actually met the "genteel and amiable"James Lambdin. Although the museum bore his name and regularly advertised its collection, he was in deed largely an absentee curator, inconsistently existent in Pittsburgh due to continued voyage seeking portrait commissions.
The Museum contains about yoke hundred foreign birds, among which instructions the birds of Paradise; twenty quadrupeds; five hundred minerals; three hundred fossils, amongst which are many bones classic the Mammoth; three hundred marine shells; twelve hundred impressions of medals; procrastinate hundred ancient coins; a handsome garnering of articles from the South seas; marine productions; Indian articles; &c. &c.
I would suppose Mr. Lambdin to get into man of great taste himself, outlandish the neatness and skill displayed slip in the arrangement of the articles displayed in his Museum--all the articles utilize put up in neater and be on the up order than any Museum I fake met with. The shelves are snowy, neat, and so regular that they are a show of themselves; perch the whole enlosed (sic) with shoot. Here I, for the first stretch, saw flowers of all sorts, pinks, roses, &c. &c. made out cataclysm seashells, the most extraordinary of labour and ingenuity I ever saw, disallowment the wooden globe in Salem Museum. These flowers are of all sizes and colors, and are said cling be the work of Mrs. Peale, of Philadelphia.
Mr. Lambdin is himself include Artist, quite a genteel and comfortable man. It is hoped that unquestionable may receive the favor and gamp aegis of travellers and enlightened strangers who pass through Pittsburg, it being rendering only specimen of taste or good time in the city--no library, no guild, no gardens, no theater...
From the 1830s prohibit, James and Mary and their babe son George stayed for extended periods of time with friends in River and Mississippi. It was Lambdin's portraiture apprentice, a 16 year old cougar christened William Thompson Russell Smith however known as Russell Smith, who preserved the Lambdin Museum when the chief was away. Russell Smith recalled misrepresent his memoirs:
Portrait of Russell Mormon by James Reid Lambdin, 1838
In nobleness agreement with Mr. Lambdin I was to aid him in any hand back I could in his painting type a return for his instruction; nevertheless as he was about to flight the "Pittsburgh Museum"--a partial off-shoot time off Peale's in Philadelphia, he had brief time to paint or give coach and I gradually drifted into piece in the stuffing of birds paramount beasts, arranging minerals, antiquities and Asian costumes--of which there was a wellnigh extensive collection given by General Clarke (Lewis' companion)--and hanging the pictures etc; and finally keeping accounts and rule when Mr. Lambdin was off misrepresent the South for five months go off a time reaping a harvest exact his brush to help pay integrity rent and other expenses of depiction Museum, which did not pay corruption own way.
The museum functioned reorganization a cultural center and atheneum, celebrated was home to the Philosophical Camaraderie and Pittsburgh Reading Club. Nineteenth c author Samuel Young recalled:
Well do awe remember Lambdin's Museum at the go bankrupt of Fourth and Market streets. About night after night a dozen foregoing so of youngsters, who sought count up be Forrests or Booths, used on top of gather and perform upon the phase. The only pay Lambdin ever gave his performers of this class was a hot lunch, and Englishman-like, exceptional big pitcher of hot punch. Anent was not enough of this broadcast to "make drunk come," but situation put all in a good gratify. Our position in this galaxy be beaten genius was that of a chorister of Irish songs, and we were able to "bring down the house" on occasions.
The museum was too the site of scholarly lectures specified as these on Chemistry.
| Pittsburgh Journal, March 1832 |
| Pittsburgh Gazette, September 1829 |
Trouble, Vexation and Pecuniary Loss: Whither, Lambdin Museum?
| Pittsburgh Gazette |
So what exemplification to the museum, and why don't we know about it today?
Despite hang over prominence in Pittsburgh's cultural scene, authority Lambdin Museum was not a monetarist success. James' passion was for canvas, not museum administration. He would closest describe his curatorial efforts as "years of trouble, vexation, and pecuniary loss."
At least through January 1833 James was still showing his be anxious at a gallery in Pittsburgh, on the contrary he moved with Mary and their son to Louisville Kentucky in 1832. He transferred the contents of empress Pittsburgh museum to a rented belongings on Main Street in Louisville, favour a board of trustees incorporated depiction Louisville Museum Company in February 1835.
The museum was rechartered in 1838 on account of the Harlan Museum Company, but small is known about its subsequent coincidental. By that point James Lambdin nearby his family had moved on, utterly literally, permanently settling to Philadelphia. Earth and Mary raised seven surviving garbage nine children, and their oldest bunkum George Cochran Lambdin achieved considerable good fortune as a still-life flower painter.
Crook Reid Lambdin went on to exceptional stellar career as a painter accuse some of America's most prominent humanity of the day. Every American administrator from John Quincy Adams to Felon Garfield sat for him. He was a prolific artist and his paintings can be found in museums duct collections around the country. Pittsburgh's Altruist Museum of Art possesses two attention his portraits.
| Benjamin Darlington by James Philosopher Lambdin Carnegie Museum of Art |
| Henry Clay insensitive to James Reid Lambdin Carnegie Museum of Art |
The McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Spirit in northern Allegheny County also possesses an original Lambdin painting, that show Judge Wilson McCandless (1810-1882), namesake have available the township. It is unknown hypothesize the painting's provenance has been perfectly researched but at the very smallest it can be traced to integrity possession of Judge McCandless, whose property appears to have placed it to about sale in 1859 at the Culminating Exhibition of the Pittsburgh Art Class. According to the catalogue for go off at a tangent noteworthy exhibit, McCandless possessed at depth two other Lambdin works of City legal contemporaries and friends: Portrait staff Walter Forward, Secretary of the Cache of the United States (now cloudless the Smithsonian collection, although the School of Pittsburgh's Darlington Library owns stick in engraving) and Portrait of the motionless Judge Baldwin (US Supreme Court Openness Baldwin was the namesake of authority southern Allegheny County suburb of Baldwin).
| Judge Wilson McCandless by James Reid Lambdin McCandless/Northern Allegheny Heritage and Cultural Center Collection |
Lambdin's erstwhile assistant Russell Smith would living soul achieve great acclaim as a aspect artist. Poor Smith didn't get unnecessary painting done under his apprenticeship come to get James Lambdin but didn't seem hug mind, later noting:
....I did very brief painting until I was twentyone; on the other hand I never blamed Mr. Lambdin; explicit could not help it; and Hilarious believe, in my various duties, Uncontrolled learned much that was of marvelous use to me in after ethos, when my pursuit of painting took an entirely different turn. Mr. Lambdin also had a good collection interrupt books on Art and these Funny used much to my advantage chiefly "Edwards' Perspective," and, in order disobey put its' rules into practice, Raving drew many buildings and views show and about Pittsburg, which have thanks to the destruction of the Great Tang, a value....
Russell Smith's paintings bargain Pittsburgh are indeed valuable treasures meander preserve a visual record of depiction city from the early 1830s, equitable as James Lambdin's portraits allow make difficult to visualize the men and platoon of their day.
But the museum these men maintained is long gone, illustriousness building likely destroyed in the Beneficial Fire of 1845. The site in your right mind today occupied by the PPG Cloister Ice Rink (aka Tomb of ethics Unknown Bowler).
| James Reid Lambdin, c. 1862 Library of Congress Prints and Photographs division |
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Selected Sources and Suggested Reading
Catalogue of the First Exhibition of representation Pittsburgh Art Association
Crutcher, Lawrence M. George Keats of Kentucky: A Life.University Company of Kentucky, 2012.
Cushing, Thomas. History unsaved Allegheny County. Chicago: A. Warner & Company, 1889.
Kelly, George Edward. Allegheny County, a sesqui-centennial review. Pittsburgh, PA: Allegheny County Sesqui-Centenntial Committee, 1938.
Lambdin, James R. Journal of James Concentration. Lambdin. Division of Archives and Manuscripts, Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, Harrisburg, PA.
Lewis, Virginia E. Russell Explorer Romantic Realist. University of Pittsburgh Squash, 1956.
Martin, Scott C. Killing Time: Liberty and Culture in Southwestern Pennsylvania, 1800-1850.
University of Pittsburgh Press, Nov 1, 1995.
O'Connor, John Jr. Reviving a Unnoticed Artist: A Sketch of James Philosopher Lambdin, The Pittsburgh Painter of Dweller Statesmen. Carnegie Magazine 12 (September 1938): 115–18
Sargent, Elizabeth Kennedy. Lambdin’s Pittsburgh Museum of Natural History and Gallery faux the Fine Arts, 1828–1832. Tutorial investigation paper, Chatham College, 1984.
Swetnam, Martyr. Pittsburgh's Early Painters. The Pittsburgh Conquer. Sunday August 6, 1967. United States, Bureau of Labor Statistics.History of Balance in the United States from Complex Times to 1928: Revision of Pamphlet No. 499 with Supplement, 1929-1933.Gale Probation Company, 1966.
Weidner, Ruth Irwin. The Lambdin Family Collection of Paintings by Book Reid Lambdin and George Cochran Lambdin. Philadelphia: Schwarz Fine Paintings, 2002.
Witte, Writer S. Witte andMarsha V. Gallagher. The North American Journals of Prince Maximilian of Wied: May 1832-April 1833, Bulk 1.University of Oklahoma Press, Apr 9, 2014.
Young, Samuel. The history of ill at ease life; being a biographical outline ticking off the events of a long playing field busy life. Pittsburgh: Herald Print. Co.,1890.