Tag Archives: Artist

Professor J. Edwin Churchill

Photographs, Portrait Painter, , , ,

1856                434 Pennsylvania Avenue, Between 4½ and 6th Streets, Washington, D. C. 1857                Address and Location Unknown

Professor J. Edwin Churchill was recorded in two announcements, the first on September 6, 1856 in the Evening Star (Washington, D. C.).  ….Prof. J. E. Churchill, the distinguished American artist, is in this city.  Some of his exquisite specimens of photographs in oil, among which is a fine likeness of Mrs. Julia Dean Hayne, may be seen at Whitehurst’s gallery.

The second on August 26, 1857 in the same paper.  Prof. J. E. Churchill has just finished a fine photographic portrait in oil, of President Buchanan.

According to The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artist in America 1564-1860 J. Edwin Churchill is recorded as a portrait painted in Philadelphia in 1860.

E. Church

Daguerreotypes, , ,

1845                Rooms over Mr. E. Clark’s Store, Ogdensburgh, New York.

E. Church was recorded in an announcement on April 29, 1845 in the St. Lawrence Republican. (Ogdensburgh, New York). Daguerreotype painting.—Mr. E. Church has rooms over Mr. E. Clark’s store, where he takes likenesses on short notice.  He exhibits some beautiful specimens of the art.  A great improvement has been effected, by coloring the portraits, giving them the hue of natural life.

This is possibly Edwin Church but without further proof it is only speculation.

Jefferson Beardsley

Landscape Painter, Photographs, Portrait Painter, , ,

Jefferson Beardsley (1833-1895) was recorded in an advertisement in the Ithaca Journal and Advertiser (Ithaca, New York) on September 15, 1858 and which ran until February 23, 1859.  His address is based on Moses Reeves’s advertisement 49 Owego Street, over T. C. Thompson’s Merchant Tailor’s store, Ithaca.

The Sun Still Shines!  “By their Works ye know them.”  I would respectfully announce to the citizens of Ithaca and surrounding country, that I have taken the rooms formerly occupied by M. Reeves, over T. C. Thompson’s and 2 doors west of Culver’s store, where I am prepared to take all kinds of Photographic Pictures in a superior manner.  I will take pictures of Invalids or Deceased Persons, at their residence, on the most reasonable terms and the shortest possible notice.  Portraits painted—miniature or life size—in oil and crayon, Views of residences, Draughting and pictures of every description painted to Order.

Another example of a painter doing photography.  After doing an internet search for Jefferson Beardsley.  I found out that he was a portrait and landscape painter and photographer, working into the 1880’s and possibly beyond.  He is listed in The New York Historical Society Dictionary of Artist in America, 1864-1860.  As a genre painter, Ithaca (N. Y.), exhibited at the National Academy in 1859.

A foot note Beardsley attended the American Centennial Celebration in Philadelphia in 1876 and evidently purchased photographs of French pornography, sometime after he returned home he was charged with a crime and stood trial after college student and young men came in contact with them, he was also accused of making copies.  At the end of the trial he was sentenced to six months of hard labor.[1]

[1] Zen And The Art Of Local History (edited by Carol Kammen, Bob Beatty) p. 103-110.

A. Andrews

Daguerreotypes, Portrait Painter, , ,

On September 20, 1853 A. Andrews advertises in the Penn Yan Democrat, Penn-Yan, New York.  Offering his daguerreotype apparatus for sale.  The subscriber having tried daguerreotyping to his heart contented, or rather discontented, has returned to his first love. “portrait painting, and now wishes to sell out his whole apparatus.  He has on hand a full and complete apparatus, chemicals, a snug little outfit of Plates, Cases, Lockets, &c. all of which he will sell upon the most reasonable terms for Ready Cash

Any one wishing to embark in the Daguerrian business cannot do better than to call on the subscriber at his rooms in Penn Yan, in the old Stewart & Tunnicliff building, up stairs.

There is only one A.  Andrews listed in The New York Historical Society’s Dictionary of Artists In America 1564-1860.  It is Ambrose Andrews, but there is no proof at this time that they are the same person.