Scott, William E. (William Edouard), 1884-1964

Variant names

Hide Profile

William Edouard Scott was born in Indianapolis in 1884. He moved to Chicago and attended the School of Art Institute of Chicago. During his time in Chicago he painted murals around the city, one of which was Commerce, which is still lauded today as remarkable. He learned much of his palette and impressionist technique, during his travels to France. While abroad he studied at the Académie Julien and Académie Colarossi and was mentored by Henry O. Tanner, a famous African American artist who moved to Paris to avoid racial prejudice against his art. Training in Paris, Scott was able to build a reputation for himself more easily than his race would have allowed him in America. Perhaps because of this, he seemed more conservative in his portrayals of the "New Negro" than others in the movement, and sometimes painted scenes that had nothing to do with race at all. After his formal education was complete, Scott received a Rosewald Foundation grant and traveled to Haiti to paint those who had "maintained their African heritage". Later he traveled to Alabama to study blacks in different communities in the South. By refusing to paint blacks as only slaves and laborers (as so many before him had), Scott hoped to "reverse the stereotypical perceptions of African Americans and eventually foster an understanding among races". When he returned to Chicago, Scott continued with that goal as he portrayed "blacks on canvas in positions of prominence doing noble deeds" throughout the portraits and murals he created for the rest of his life. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/William_Edouard_Scott)

From the description of Papers, 1884-2007 (Chicago Public Library). WorldCat record id: 773740827

Muralist, portrait artist, illustrator, painter. Graduate of the Chicago Art Institute, studied with Henry O. Tanner in Paris.

From the guide to the William Edouard Scott collection, 1930-1960, (The New York Public Library. Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, Manuscripts, Archives and Rare Books Division.)

Muralist, portrait artist, illustrator, painter.

Graduate of the Chicago Art Institute, studied with Henry O. Tanner in Paris.

From the description of William Edouard Scott collection, 1930-1960. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122486180

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Newark Museum. Curatorial records of Against the Odds: African American Artists and the Harmon foundation, exhibition, 1926-1990 and undated. Newark museum
creatorOf William Edouard Scott collection, 1930-1960. New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Scott, William E. (William Edouard), 1884-1964. Papers, 1884-2007 Chicago Public Library, Harold Washington Library Center
creatorOf William Edouard Scott collection, 1930-1960 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. Rare Books, Manuscripts, and Archives Section
creatorOf Scott, William E. (William Edouard), 1884-1964. William E. Scott : artist file. Indianapolis Museum of Art Library
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Art Institute of Chicago corporateBody
associatedWith Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University. corporateBody
associatedWith Indianapolis Museum of Art Stout Reference Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Newark Museum. corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Illinois--Chicago
Washington (D.C.)
Indiana
Subject
African American artists
African American arts
African American painters
African Americans
Art
Artists
Arts
Vertical files (Libraries)
Occupation
Activity

Person

Birth 1884

Death 1964

Americans

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w63856q9

Ark ID: w63856q9

SNAC ID: 56511728