author
Samuel Isham
1855–1914
A respected American portrait and figure painter, he also left a lasting mark as the author of a noted early history of American painting. His career moved from law to art, then into teaching, writing, and leadership in New York’s art world.
1 Audiobook
About the author
Born in New York City in 1855, Samuel Isham studied at Yale and was briefly trained for the law before turning fully to painting. He continued his art studies in Paris at the Académie Julian, a path that helped shape his work as a portrait and figure painter.
Back in the United States, he became part of the professional art scene in New York, exhibiting his work and taking on roles in major art organizations. He was also known as a teacher and as an active figure in the broader cultural life around American painting.
Beyond his canvases, he is still remembered for The History of American Painting, a widely recognized book that helped document the development of art in the United States. He died in 1914, leaving behind both paintings and writing that kept his name in view.