Edwin Blashfield

Key facts

Lived

1848–1936, American

Movement

• Neoclassicism

Works held in

5 museums^[1]

Plan your visit to see Edwin Blashfield →

• What is Edwin Blashfield known for?+

  Edwin Blashfield is known as one of America's most prominent muralists. He also designed the 1896 two-dollar bill.
• What is Edwin Blashfield's most famous work?+

  Without more specific source material, it is difficult to name Edwin Blashfield's single 'most famous work' with certainty. He was a prolific American artist known for his murals, particularly in public buildings. Many of these murals are still viewable today. Some notable examples of his work include murals in the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C.; these depict subjects such as 'The Epic Poet' and 'Time Saving Truth from Envy and Discord'. Blashfield also created murals for state capitols, such as the Iowa State Capitol Building. His artistic output spanned a range of subjects, from historical and allegorical scenes to religious themes. Further research would be required to determine which of these many works is considered his most well-known.
• What should I know about Edwin Blashfield's prints?+

  When considering prints by Edwin Blashfield, bear in mind some facts about fine art printmaking. Original prints are produced in limited editions; they usually command higher prices than posters, which are not numbered. Plates for original prints are made by hand; therefore, the number of prints is restricted by how many impressions can be made before the plate degrades. Some publishers limit the number of impressions, increasing a print’s value. Limits may be set as high as 700 to 1,000 impressions, but some prints are limited to between 250 and 500, making them highly prized by collectors. Before entering the print market, it is useful to know the standard method of signing and numbering editions. All prints in a limited edition should be numbered (for example, 35/100). The larger number is the total number of prints; the smaller number is the print's sequential number. Many artists sign and number their prints in pencil.
• What style or movement did Edwin Blashfield belong to?+

  Edwin Blashfield belonged to the Neoclassical movement. Neoclassicism was a revival of classical art and architecture that began in Europe around 1750. It lasted until about 1830, although late Neoclassicism continued through the 1870s. The movement was born in Italy and France, then spread across Europe to Russia, and to the United States. Neoclassicism was not the first classical revival in Europe; ancient Rome had been a source of interest from the fall of the Roman Empire through the Middle Ages and into the Renaissance. The Baroque and Rococo eras responded to classicism in different ways, sometimes applying ancient ideals, while moving toward new aesthetic approaches. In the mid-18th century, a series of events helped precipitate a fuller examination of classicism from ancient Greece and Rome. It came to be viewed as a style and philosophy that could offer a sense of purpose and dignity to art, consistent with the new "enlightened" thinking of the era. The Enlightenment spurred interest in Greece and Rome, which led to excavations at Herculaneum and Pompeii.
• What techniques or materials did Edwin Blashfield use?+

  Information on Edwin Blashfield's specific techniques and materials is scarce in the provided texts. However, the passages do offer insights into the materials and methods of other artists working in related fields. Gainsborough, for instance, employed a pale ground to enhance luminosity, using thin paint layers and a pure white pigment (Cremona white) bound in poppy oil. He was also known for his impulsive brushwork, ranging from brown washes to bold scumbles, and for his interest in transparencies. William Blake, rejecting oil paint, favoured tempera or distemper, using rabbit-skin or carpenter's glue as a medium. He aimed for maximum colour purity, relying heavily on line drawing and avoiding heavy, opaque forms. Blake's technique involved applying paint in small strokes, leaving the white ground exposed for highlights. Josef Albers developed a technique using sandblasted opaque flashed glass with stencils and glass-painter colours, which were then baked in a kiln. This method allowed for precise contours and a unique effect of light reflection. These examples illustrate a range of approaches to artistic creation, involving choices of ground, pigment, medium, and application techniques.
• What was Edwin Blashfield known for?+

  Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was an American painter and muralist. He is best known for his work on large-scale interior decoration projects. Blashfield studied painting in Paris with Léon Bonnat between 1867 and 1870. He exhibited at the Paris Salon. He returned to the United States, and established himself in New York. There, he designed stained glass, and also produced illustrations. His reputation rests primarily on his murals for buildings. These include the dome of the Manufacturers' and Liberal Arts Building at the 1893 World's Columbian Exposition in Chicago; St. Matthew's English Evangelical Lutheran Church, Hanover, Pennsylvania, in 1894; the Iowa State Capitol in Des Moines; the Wisconsin State Capitol in Madison; the Detroit Public Library; and the George Washington University's Lisner Auditorium. Many of Blashfield's murals depict allegorical figures. These are often set against classical architectural backgrounds. His style blends academic realism with Beaux-Arts influences. He also wrote on art-related topics. These writings include *Mural Painting in America* (1913).
• When did Edwin Blashfield live and work?+

  Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was an American artist and author. He is best known for painting murals. Blashfield was born in New York City. He studied painting with Léon Bonnat in Paris, beginning a long association with France. He exhibited works at the Paris Salon, and he was made a Chevalier of the French Legion of Honor in 1926. His artistic career began in the late 1870s, and he soon became a popular artist in the United States. He secured many commissions for large-scale interior decorations. These included murals for the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., the Iowa State Capitol, the Wisconsin State Capitol, and the Detroit Public Library. Many of his murals depict allegorical and historical subjects. He also wrote extensively on art. His books include *Mural Painting in America* (1913). Blashfield served as president of the Society of American Artists from 1896 to 1899, and he was president of the National Academy of Design from 1909 to 1916. Blashfield died at his summer home in South Harpswell, Maine.
• Where can I see Edwin Blashfield's work?+

  Edwin Blashfield's artworks can be viewed in several locations. In the United States, these include the Metropolitan Museum of Art (New York), the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (California), the Minneapolis Institute of Arts (Minnesota), the Museum of Modern Art (New York), the Virginia Museum of Fine Arts (Richmond), the Wolfsonian at Florida International University (Miami Beach), and the Charles Hosmer Morse Museum of American Art (Winter Park, Florida). In Canada, Blashfield's art is held at the Royal Ontario Museum (Toronto). In the United Kingdom, one can find his pieces at the Victoria & Albert Museum (London), the Brighton Museum & Art Gallery (Brighton), the Geffrye Museum (London), the Manchester Art Gallery (Manchester), and the National Museums of Scotland, Royal Museum (Edinburgh).
• Where was Edwin Blashfield from?+

  Edwin Howland Blashfield was born in New York City on 15 December 1848. He spent much of his career in New York, although he also lived and worked in Europe. Blashfield began his artistic training in 1867 with the painter Wilhelm von Kaulbach. He then studied in Paris with Léon Bonnat between 1870 and 1874. He maintained a Paris studio for many years. He returned to the United States and became a prominent figure in the American art world. He was elected to the National Academy of Design in 1882. Blashfield served as its president from 1909 to 1913. He also held positions in other organisations, including the Society of American Artists and the American Academy of Arts and Letters. Blashfield died on 12 October 1936, in South Sandwich, Massachusetts. He was 87 years old.
• Who did Edwin Blashfield influence?+

  Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was a prolific American muralist and author. Although he taught at institutions like the Cooper Union in New York, it is difficult to identify specific artists who directly imitated his style. Instead, Blashfield's influence is more evident in the broader adoption of mural painting as a means of civic decoration in the United States during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. His writings, such as "Mural Painting in America" (1913), helped to codify the principles and practices of muralism, impacting a generation of artists who sought to create large-scale public works. Blashfield's presidency of the Society of American Artists also placed him in a position to shape artistic tastes and trends. His emphasis on academic training and classical ideals affected the artistic standards of the time. His work, and his advocacy for mural painting, helped to create a climate in which other muralists, such as those working on the WPA Federal Art Project during the Depression era, could find opportunities and acceptance.
• Who influenced Edwin Blashfield?+

  Edwin Blashfield, an American artist, appears to have been part of a broad artistic tradition drawing from both European and American sources. Early American portraitists like John Singleton Copley and Gilbert Stuart emulated their British counterparts. Benjamin West, another artist of the same era, painted American historical scenes, adopting the style of French historical painters such as Jacques-Louis David and Jean-Auguste-Dominique Ingres. Later, artists like Fuller and Morse incorporated influences from the Munich school or Britain. These influences are evident in the work of Thomas Eakins, Frank Duveneck, and William Merritt Chase, contemporaries of Winslow Homer and Albert Pinkham Ryder. Homer, who came from illustration, was influenced by Eakins. George Bellows, a later artist, descended from Chase. Ryder's work, however, blended Florentine and Pre-Raphaelite or Blake-like concepts. These artists collectively contributed to an American artistic tradition.
• Who was Edwin Blashfield?+

  Edwin Howland Blashfield (1848-1936) was an American painter and muralist. He is best known for his academic and allegorical style, often seen in public buildings. Born in New York City, Blashfield studied painting with Léon Bonnat in Paris. He absorbed the traditions of European academic art during this period. He returned to the United States and became a prominent figure in the American Renaissance movement. This movement sought to elevate American art and culture through classical ideals. Blashfield received many commissions for murals in important buildings. These included the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C., and state capitols across the United States. His work often featured classical figures and symbolism. These were intended to convey civic virtues and historical narratives. He also wrote extensively on art and mural painting. His writings offer insights into the theory and practice of mural decoration during his time. Blashfield's work represents the American adaptation of European academic traditions.