James Fairman (American 1826–1904)
<p>An article in the <em>London Art Journal</em> in 1880 had said of John Fairman’s work, “his paintings have ‘the solar look,’ and are like Wordsworth’s scenes of childhood, ‘appareled in celestial light’.”</p>
<p><a href="https://www.bedfordfineartgallery.com/james_fairman_benevolent_guardian.html" rel="noopener ugc nofollow" target="_blank">19th century artist James Fairman</a> was born in Glasgow, Scotland. In 1832, after his father’s death, young Fairman’s mother moved the family to New York City. At the age of 16, he was employed as a bookbinder for Harper & Brothers publishing, in Manhattan. His goal was to become an artist and toward that end he enrolled in art classes at the American Academy of Design.</p>
<p>He was lured to England in 1851 by the Great Exhibition at the Grand Crystal Palace in London, England. According to Gerald M. Ackerman in his book, American Orientalists, Fairman claimed “that the quality of English painting was a revelation to him”.</p>
<p>He was involved in Abolitionist movement, which revealed his talent for public speaking, a skill which served him later. Fairman fought with the Union Army during the Civil War, was wounded during the Battle of Fair Oaks, and mustered out in 1863.</p>
<p>He set up a studio in New York City and pursued art as a full-time profession. Having a both a strong personality and opinions, his paintings were sometimes withdrawn from Academy exhibitions because of his disagreements with how they were to be hung.</p>
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