Thomas Chambers: American Marine and Landscape Painter 1808-1869

About this book

Labeled as a traveling American folk artist when he was rediscovered in the mid-20th century the mysterious Thomas Chambers here receives a fresh and creative reassessment. Although his distinctive sea- and landscapes appear in many American collections little is known about this English-born painter who arrived in New Orleans in 1832 and disappeared from record in the mid-1860s leaving many paintings that later resurfaced in rural New York and Massachusetts. In this richly illustrated work Kathleen A. Foster shows however that far from being simply an itinerant painter of folk art Chambers actually enjoyed a professional even entrepreneurial relationship to the art world. Foster performs close studies of Chamberss known works his stylistic relationship to his brother (English marine painter George Chambers) and a newly discovered American auction record of 1845. Chambers she argues provided a popular landscape art for a middle class of mixed cosmopolitan and folk tastes. Bringing fancy painting to this new constituency Chambers worked outside academic circles drawing astutely from popular culture. In the 20th century his rediscovery as Americas first modern paid tribute to his independent spirit and decorative panache. Published in association with the Philadelphia Museum of Art Exhibition Schedule: Philadelphia Museum of Art (September 27 December 28 2008) The Hyde Collection Glens Falls New York (February 8 April 19 2009) American Folk Art Museum New York (September 29 March 7 2010) Indiana University Art Museum Bloomington (March 26 May 30 2010)