Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936

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Born in New York City in 1848, Edwin Howland Blashfield became an artist who specialized in mural painting and advocated for public art. In 1867 Blashfield traveled to Paris where he studied with the figure painter Léon Bonnât. Blashfield's works were exhibited at the Paris Salon during 1875-1879, 1888-1889, and 1892-1893. On July 5, 1881, Blashfield married in Paris Evangeline Wilbour, and soon after took up permanent residence in New York City. He and his wife collaborated on many illustrated articles for magazines. In 1892 Blashfield received a commission to create a painting for the dome of the Manufacturer's and Liberal Arts Building at the 1893 Chicago World's Fair. The resulting artwork, "The Arts of Metal Working," earned Blashfield national recognition. Blashfield went on to create murals for public buildings including the dome of the Library of Congress (1896) and the state capitols of Minnesota, Iowa, South Dakota, and Wisconsin. Blashfield also received many private commissions such as the New York residence of Collis P. Huntington and the Hotel Astoria. He remained active as an artist, and prepared several war posters during the first World War. Throughout his career, Blashfield remained dedicated to the promotion of public art. He was one of the founding members of New York City's Municipal Art Society in 1892. Blashfield achieved both popularity with the public and professional esteem among his peers. He served as president for many prestigious professional organizations including Society of American Artists (1895-1896), National Institute of Arts and Letters (1914-1916), and The National Academy of Design (1920-1926). In 1908 Blashfield was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Blashfield died at his summer home in South Dennis, Mass., 1936.

From the description of Papers, 1867-1936. (New York University). WorldCat record id: 476478052

Mural painter. Having studied at P.A.F.A. and in Paris, Blashfield worked on: the Court House, Baltimore; Cleveland Federal Building; Citizens Bank, Cleveland; Hudson County Court House, Jersey City; Capitol, Masdison, Wis.; Essex County Court House, Newark; Appellate Court, N.Y.; C.C.N.Y.; Church of the Saviour, Phila.; Capitol, Pierre, S. Dak.; Bank of Pittsburgh; Capitol, St. Paul, Minn.; Library of Congress; Luzerne County Court House, Wilkes-Barre, Pa.; Mahoning County Court House, Youngstown, Ohio; St. Matthew's Church, Wash., D.C.; First Presbyterian Church, Chattanooga, Tenn.; Public Lib., Detroit, M.I.T.; and the Episcopal Church, Chappaqua, N.Y.

From the description of Edwin H. Blashfield papers, 1850-1980. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122502602

Edwin H. Blashfield, painter and muralist, travelled extensively in Europe during the 1880s. He was married to Evangeline Wilbour, daughter of Egyptologist Charles Edwin Wilbour, and travelled in Egypt with the Wilbours.

From the description of Travel diaries. (Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives). WorldCat record id: 122482207

Painter and muralist.

From the description of Clio offering gifts to Athene : drawings, ca. 1914. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122500239

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Weir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. John Ferguson Weir papers, 1838-1957 (inclusive), 1861-1928 (bulk). Yale University Library
referencedIn Howard Giles Papers, 1878-1958 Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center
referencedIn Library Collection of Study Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1930-2000 Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Autograph letter signed Edwin Howland Blashfield to: "My dear Miss Pennell" June 12, 1911. Wellesley College
referencedIn Lockman, DeWitt McClellan, 1870-1957. DeWitt M. Lockman interviews with artists, 1927. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Clio offering gifts to Athene : drawings, ca. 1914. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
creatorOf Wilbour, Charles E. (Charles Edwin), 1833-1896. Wilbour Archival Collection 1833-1935, 1880-1896. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Edwin H. Blashfield letter to Miss Heller, 1922-1926. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Daniel Putnam Brinley and Kathrine Sanger Brinley papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Shelton, Walter B. Certificate of honorable service, Company C, 120th Infantry, United States Army. Library of Virginia
referencedIn Barrows family papers, 1861-1931. Houghton Library
referencedIn Isabella Stewart Gardner papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Gordon, Hugo Knoll. Certificate, 1919. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
creatorOf James Carroll Beckwith papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Brooklyn Museum. Office of the Director. William Henry Fox records, 1913-33 (bulk), 1908-35 (inclusive). Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf John Pickard papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Alfred Williams Anthony papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Library Collection of Study Photographs and Clippings, ca. 1930-2000 Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute, The Clark
creatorOf Pennell, Ethel Adele, 1875-1969. Typed letter signed Ethel A. Pennell to: "My dear Mr. Blashfield" June 12, 1911. Wellesley College
referencedIn Wisconsin. Capitol Commission. General files, 1903-1927. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
referencedIn Cass Gilbert Collection, 1883-1952 New-York Historical Society
creatorOf Hall, Grace, d. 1947. Grace Hall papers, [ca. 1912-1944]. Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn William Roscoe Thayer papers, 1762-1927 (inclusive), 1872-1921 (bulk) Houghton Library
creatorOf American Academy of Arts and Letters records Archives of American Art
referencedIn Cass Gilbert Papers, 1841-1961, (bulk 1886-1934) Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
creatorOf Allan Marquand letters Archives of American Art
creatorOf Albert Duveen collection of artists' letters and ephemera Archives of American Art
referencedIn Royal Cortissoz papers, 1864-1955, 1920-1955 Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Autograph letter signed, dated : New York, 25 October 1916, to [Walter] Damrosch, 1916 Oct. 25. Pierpont Morgan Library.
referencedIn Elwell, Frank Edwin, 1858-1922. Letters from sculptors, from the correspondence files of the Curator of Ancient & Modern Statuary ; Miscellaneous letters from the correspondence files of the Curator of Ancient & Modern Statuary, 1892-1904. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf William Meyerowitz and Theresa F. Bernstein papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Fosdick, James William, b. 1858. Letters, 1899-1935. Winterthur Library
creatorOf Edwin H. Blashfield papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Travel diaries. Brooklyn Museum Libraries & Archives
creatorOf William McGregor Paxton papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Edwin H. Blashfield letters to F.E. Elwell, 1902. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Avery, Samuel Putnam, 1822-1904. Menu of Architectural League of New York dinner, 1895. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf William Anderson Coffin papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Frost (Edwin Collins) and William Henry Frost Papers, Frost (Edwin Collins) and William Henry Frost papers, (bulk 1890-1927), 1890-1941 John Hay Library, Special Collections
referencedIn Oswald Garrison Villard papers Houghton Library
referencedIn American war posters from the First World War, circa 1914-circa 1919, bulk 1917-1919 Bancroft Library
creatorOf Charles Henry Hart papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Vincent Aderente papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Seabury, Channing, 1842-1910. Channing Seabury and family papers, 1854-1955, 1987-1988. Minnesota Historical Society, Division of Archives and Manuscripts
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936,. Autograph letter signed from Edwin Howland Blashfield, New York, to Augustin Daly [manuscript], 1889 June 26. Folger Shakespeare Library
referencedIn William Anderson Coffin papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Edwin Howland Blashfield letters, 1900-1905 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Letter to Ada Rehan, n.d. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
creatorOf Bartow, Charles. Rosters, certificate, and photograph, 1919. Wisconsin Veterans Museum Research Center
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Edwin Howland Blashfield letter to William H. Lippincott, 1917. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
referencedIn Cox, Kenyon, 1856-1919. Kenyon Cox papers, circa 1860-1922. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Papers, 1867-1936. Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934. Cass Gilbert collection, 1883-1952 (bulk 1900-1934). Churchill County Museum
creatorOf Ivan Olinsky papers Archives of American Art
referencedIn Howells family papers, 1850-1954 (inclusive). Houghton Library
creatorOf Samuel Putnam Avery papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Frost, Edwin Collins, 1867-1956. Edwin Collins Frost papers, 1846-1967. Brown University, Brown University Library
referencedIn Don Becker collection Archives of American Art
creatorOf William Henry Rinehart Fund records Archives of American Art
creatorOf Harry Siddons Mowbray and Mowbray Family papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Daniel Putnam Brinley and Kathrine Sanger Brinley papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Blashfield, Edwin Howland, 1848-1936. Letter, 1917, August 18, Rowayton, Conn., to [Philip D.] Sherman. Brown University Archives, John Hay Library
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Interviews of artists and architects associated with the National Academy of Design Archives of American Art
Relation Name
associatedWith Aderente, Vincent, ca. 1880-1941. person
associatedWith American Academy of Arts and Letters. corporateBody
associatedWith Anthony, Alfred Williams, 1860-1939. person
associatedWith Avery, Samuel Putnam, 1822-1904. person
associatedWith Bacon, Henry, 1839-1912. person
correspondedWith Barrows family. family
associatedWith Bartow, Charles. person
associatedWith Becker, Don. person
associatedWith Beckwith, J. Carroll (James Carroll), 1852-1917. person
associatedWith Blashfield, Albert Doud, 1860-1920. person
associatedWith Blashfield, Evangeline Wilbour, d. 1918. person
associatedWith Brinley, Putnam. person
associatedWith Brooklyn Museum. Office of the Director. corporateBody
associatedWith Brownell, Will. person
associatedWith Butler, Nicholas Murray, 1862-1947. person
associatedWith Coffin, William A. (William Anderson), 1855-1925. person
associatedWith Cortissoz, Royal, 1869-1948. person
associatedWith Cox, Kenyon, 1856-1919. person
correspondedWith Daly, Augustin, 1838-1899 person
associatedWith Damrosch, Walter, 1862-1950, person
associatedWith Dewing, Thomas Wilmer, 1851-1938. person
associatedWith Duveen, Albert, person
correspondedWith Elwell, Frank Edwin, 1858-1922 person
associatedWith Fosdick, James William, b. 1858. person
associatedWith French, Daniel Chester, 1850-1931. person
associatedWith Frost, Edwin Collins, 1867-1956. person
associatedWith Frost, William G. (William Goodell), 1854-1938 person
associatedWith Gallatin, A. E. (Albert Eugene), 1881-1952. person
associatedWith Gardner, Isabella Stewart, 1840-1924. person
associatedWith Gibson, Charles Dana, 1867-1944. person
correspondedWith Gilbert, Cass, 1859-1934. person
associatedWith Giles, Howard, 1876-1955 person
associatedWith Gordon, Hugo Knoll. person
associatedWith Hall, Grace, d. 1947. person
associatedWith Hart, Charles Henry, 1847-1918. person
associatedWith Hastings, Thomas, 1860-1929. person
associatedWith Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920. person
associatedWith Huntington, Archer M. (Archer Milton), 1870-1955. person
associatedWith La Farge, John, 1835-1910. person
associatedWith Lamb, Charles R. (Charles Rollinson), 1860-1942. person
correspondedWith Lippincott, William Harrison person
associatedWith Lockman, DeWitt McClellan, 1870-1957, person
associatedWith Low, Seth, 1850-1916. person
associatedWith Mannes, David, 1866-1959. person
associatedWith Manship, Paul, 1885-1966. person
associatedWith Marquand, Allan, 1853-1924. person
associatedWith Mary Flagler Cary Music Collection (Pierpont Morgan Library) corporateBody
associatedWith Matthews, Brander, 1852-1929. person
associatedWith McKim, Charles Follen, 1847-1909. person
associatedWith Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York, N.Y.). Board of Trustees. corporateBody
associatedWith Meyerowitz, William, 1887-1981. person
associatedWith Mowbray, H. Siddons (Harry Siddons), 1858-1928. person
associatedWith Municipal Art Society of New York. corporateBody
associatedWith National Academy of Design (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith National Institute of Arts and Letters (U.S.) corporateBody
associatedWith Olinsky, Ivan G. (Ivan Gregorewitch), 1878-1962. person
associatedWith Parrish, Maxfield, 1870-1966. person
associatedWith Paxton, William McGregor, 1869-1941. person
associatedWith Pennell, Ethel Adele, 1875-1969. person
associatedWith Pickard, John, 1858-1937. person
associatedWith Sargent, John Singer, 1856-1925. person
associatedWith Seabury, Channing, 1842-1910. person
associatedWith Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616 person
associatedWith Shelton, Walter B. person
associatedWith Sherman, Philip D. (Philip Darrell), 1881-1957, person
associatedWith Society of American Artists. corporateBody
associatedWith Stanford University. Libraries. corporateBody
associatedWith Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute. Library. corporateBody
associatedWith Stokes, Frank Wilbert, 1858-1955. person
associatedWith Swartwout, R. E. (Robert Egerton) person
correspondedWith Thayer, William Roscoe, 1859-1923 person
associatedWith Tiffany, Louis Comfort, 1848-1933. person
correspondedWith Villard, Oswald Garrison, 1872-1949 person
associatedWith Weir, John Ferguson, 1841-1926. person
associatedWith Wharton, Edith, 1862-1937. person
associatedWith Wilbour, Charles E. (Charles Edwin), 1833-1896. person
associatedWith William Henry Rinehart Fund. corporateBody
associatedWith Wisconsin. Capitol Commission. corporateBody
associatedWith World's Columbian Exposition (1893 : Chicago, Ill.) corporateBody
Place Name Admin Code Country
Italy
Paris (France)
France
Germany
Netherlands
London (England)
Egypt
Greece
England
Switzerland
Italy
Greece
Egypt
Subject
Artists' preparatory studies
Art museums
Bookplates
Mural Painters
Mural painting and decoration, American
Public art
Travelers' writings, European
World War, 1914-1918
Occupation
Artists
Muralists
Activity

Person

Birth 1848-12-15

Death 1936-10-12

Americans

English

Information

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