DOI Heft:
No. 249 (January 1914)
DOI Artikel:Schmidt, Anna Seaton: An american marine painter: Frederick J. Waugh
DOI Seite / Zitierlink: https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.21208#0296
An American Marine Painter: F. J. Waugh
own painting that she might aid in his development
by relieving him of every possible material care.
Always his best critic, his highest inspiration, much
that he has accomplished is owing to her unselfish
devotion.
In those early days our schools and museums
could not offer the opportunities of Europe, and
after two years in the Philadelphia Academy he
went abroad to travel and study the old masters.
Later, he settled down for serious work in the
Academie Julian under Bouguereau and Lefebvre.
At the end of three months he happened to join a
sketching party for a week’s holiday at Gray
(in Brittany). There he met the two Harrisons,
John Lavery, Anshutz, and other strong painters.
They all advised him not to return to Julian’s and,
in fact, to cut loose from schools altogether and
work by himself, with nature alone for his guide.
Following their advice he remained in Gray until
recalled to America by the death of his father.
He now decided to settle in Philadelphia and
devote himself entirely to portrait-painting. His
success was almost phenomenal, and he was soon
surrounded by a brilliant clientele.
But the “outdoors” was ever calling, and shortly
after his marriage in 1892 he renounced his portrait
work and went to live on the Island of Sark in the
English Channel, under whose charm he had fallen
during a summer holiday. Sark is one of the
most isolated, most rugged of the Channel Islands ;
her great cliffs rise hundreds of feet from the sea,
and against this wall of rock the waves beat and
break, the fierce winds that sweep down from the
north often lashing them to such fury that for weeks
no boat can approach the island.
Mr. Waugh had always passionately loved the
sea. Cut off from the outside world he here began
that profound study of the colour and form of
waves, of the great laws that control the waters,
which has enabled him to give us those magnificent
marines that have made him famous.
His early taste for mechanics now came to his
“the great deep’ (Owned by Mr. Adolphus Lewishon, New York City) by Frederick J. WAUGH j
274
own painting that she might aid in his development
by relieving him of every possible material care.
Always his best critic, his highest inspiration, much
that he has accomplished is owing to her unselfish
devotion.
In those early days our schools and museums
could not offer the opportunities of Europe, and
after two years in the Philadelphia Academy he
went abroad to travel and study the old masters.
Later, he settled down for serious work in the
Academie Julian under Bouguereau and Lefebvre.
At the end of three months he happened to join a
sketching party for a week’s holiday at Gray
(in Brittany). There he met the two Harrisons,
John Lavery, Anshutz, and other strong painters.
They all advised him not to return to Julian’s and,
in fact, to cut loose from schools altogether and
work by himself, with nature alone for his guide.
Following their advice he remained in Gray until
recalled to America by the death of his father.
He now decided to settle in Philadelphia and
devote himself entirely to portrait-painting. His
success was almost phenomenal, and he was soon
surrounded by a brilliant clientele.
But the “outdoors” was ever calling, and shortly
after his marriage in 1892 he renounced his portrait
work and went to live on the Island of Sark in the
English Channel, under whose charm he had fallen
during a summer holiday. Sark is one of the
most isolated, most rugged of the Channel Islands ;
her great cliffs rise hundreds of feet from the sea,
and against this wall of rock the waves beat and
break, the fierce winds that sweep down from the
north often lashing them to such fury that for weeks
no boat can approach the island.
Mr. Waugh had always passionately loved the
sea. Cut off from the outside world he here began
that profound study of the colour and form of
waves, of the great laws that control the waters,
which has enabled him to give us those magnificent
marines that have made him famous.
His early taste for mechanics now came to his
“the great deep’ (Owned by Mr. Adolphus Lewishon, New York City) by Frederick J. WAUGH j
274