author
Frank Fowler
1852–1910
A Brooklyn-born painter who trained in Florence and Paris, he became known for portraits, figure paintings, and large mural decorations in some of America’s grand public buildings. He also wrote practical art books that helped explain painting technique to a wider audience.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in Brooklyn on July 12, 1852, he was the eighth of ten children and studied first at Adelphi Academy before going to Europe for art training. He worked with Edwin White in Florence, then continued his studies in Paris at the École des Beaux-Arts and under Carolus-Duran, joining the wave of American artists who looked to Europe for serious academic instruction.
Back in the United States, he built a career as a figure and portrait painter and took on important mural projects. His work appeared in major settings including the Library of Congress and other prominent public and institutional spaces, and he was elected to the National Academy of Design, first as an Associate in 1892 and then as a full Academician in 1900.
He also wrote about art in a clear, practical way. Books such as Portrait and Figure Painting helped share studio knowledge beyond professional circles, adding author and teacher to a career already rooted in painting. He died on August 18, 1910.