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Thomas Eakins

File:Eakins_selfportrait.jpg · Wikimedia Commons · See Wikimedia Commons

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Thomas Eakins

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Also known as Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins, Thomas Cowperthwaite Eakins, C.D. Cook, Eakins

American painter (1844–1916)

AI overview

Thomas Eakins was an American painter from 1844 to 1916 who is considered one of the most important figures in American art history. He is known for his realistic portraits and scenes of American life, particularly his depictions of sporting activities and medical procedures, which demonstrated his commitment to accurate observation and technical skill.

AI-generated from the Wikipedia summary — may contain errors.

Person · Open Library

Born
1844
Died
1916
Works
22

Top works

  • Notre château
  • Exhibition of paintings and water colors by Thomas
  • Eakins at Avondale and Thomas Eakins, a personal collection
  • Thomas Eakins
  • A drawing manual

via Open Library + Wikidata

Music · MusicBrainz

Type
Person
Gender
Male
Origin
United States

via MusicBrainz · CC0

Quotes

  • When a man paints a naked woman he gives her less than poor Nature did. I can conceive of few circumstances wherein I would have to paint a woman naked, but if I did I would not mutilate her for double the money. She is the most beautiful thing there is — except a naked man, but I never saw a study of one exhibited.
  • A teacher can do very little for a pupil and should only be thankful if he don't hinder him, and the greater the master, mostly the less he can say.
  • I have seen big painting here. When I had looked at all the paintings by all the masters I had known I could not help saying to myself all the time, it's very pretty but it's not all yet. It ought to be better, but now I have seen what I always thought ought to have been done and what did not seem to me impossible. O what satisfaction it gave me to see the good Spanish work so good so strong so reasonable so free from every affectation. It stands out like nature itself.
  • As some of you know, I some years ago — a few — painted a picture of Mr. Whitman. I began in the usual way, but soon found that the ordinary methods wouldn't do — that technique, rules and traditions would have to be thrown aside; that before all else, he was to be treated as a man, whatever became of what are commonly called the principles of art.
  • I taught in the Academy from the opening of the schools until I was turned out, a period much longer than I should have permitted myself to remain there. My honors are misunderstanding, persecution and neglect, enhanced because unsought.
  • On the lines of the mighty and simple strains dominating the movement, and felt intuitively and studied out by him, the master artist groups with full intention, his muscular forms. No detail contradicts. His men and animals live. Such is the work of three or four modern artists. Such was the work of many an old Greek sculptor.

via Wikiquote · CC BY-SA

Key facts

Born
Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins , ( 1844-07-25 ) July 25, 1844, Philadelphia , Pennsylvania, United States
Died
June 25, 1916 (1916-06-25) (aged 71), Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States
Education
Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts , École des Beaux-Arts
Known for
Painting, sculpture
Notable work
Max Schmitt in a Single Scull , 1871 The Gross Clinic , 1875 The Swimming Hole , 1884–85 The Agnew Clinic , 1889 William Rush and His Model , 1908
Movement
Realism
Awards
National Academician

via Wikipedia infobox

Wikidata facts

Official website
www.thomaseakins.org
Image
Eakins selfportrait.jpg
Show 9 more facts
name in native language
Thomas Eakins
Commons category
Thomas Eakins
date of birth
1844-07-25
date of death
1916-06-25
Commons Creator page
Thomas Eakins
Commons gallery
Thomas Eakins
start of work period
1869-01-01
end of work period
1916-01-01
pseudonym
Eakins, Thomas Cowperthwaite
Sources (3)

via Wikidata · CC0

Works in European collections

1 object attributed to Thomas Eakins, held across European museums, libraries & archives · via Europeana

~40 min read

Article

Thomas Cowperthwait Eakins (/ˈeɪkɪnz/; July 25, 1844 – June 25, 1916) was an American realist painter, photographer, sculptor, and fine arts educator. He is widely acknowledged to be one of the most important American artists.

For the length of his professional career, from the early 1870s until his health began to fail some 40 years later, Eakins worked exactingly from life, choosing as his subject the people of his hometown of Philadelphia. He painted several hundred portraits, usually of friends, family members, or prominent people in the arts, sciences, medicine, and clergy. Taken en masse, the portraits offer an overview of the intellectual life of contemporary Philadelphia of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Gallery (12)

Connections

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