Biography from Askart.com:
| Born to a family in Hyannis, Massachusetts where the father was in a
struggling shipping business, Elijah Baxter is described as an artist
who "remains among the most important Rhode Island painters of his
period, ..."
He only had grade school education, and then moved to Providence, Rhode
Island where his father continued his line of work. Baxter took a
job with Sackett and Davis as a jeweler, but the owner, Thomas Davis,
diverted him from that line of work when he realized the young man's
art talent. Davis then paid for Baxter to study with John
Knowlton Arnold (1834-1909).
Baxter was good at self promotion, and quickly became a part of the
Providence art community, and even organized "a benefit to fund his own
career and studio space." He sold his first paintings to the
Mayor of Providence, Thomas Doyle, who then introduced Baxter to
Governor William Sprague and his family, who were very wealthy and
influential. Under their patronage, in 1869, when he was
age 20, Baxter began three years of study in Europe, enrolling in a
rigorous course of study at the Academie of Beaux Arts in
Belgium. There he shocked his teachers because of his love of
doing plein-air rather than studio painting.
Returning to Providence, Baxter's career was put on hold for five years
because of scandal in the Sprague family, which curtailed his financial
support. However, in the 1870s, he resumed painting and worked in
Boston, where he received much positive attention. His subjects
were landscape, marine scenes, still-lifes in the Dutch tradition, and
classical style figures.
In 1880, Elijah Baxter returned to Providence, and spent the rest of
his life between that city, where he built a home, and Newport, Rhode
Island. He became a founder of the Rhode Island School of Design
and the Newport Art Association and exhibited there and at the
Providence Art Club.
By the early 1900s, he had turned primarily to landscape painting,
especially marsh scenes and moody wastelands. "His work is
characterized by strong compositions structured with simple elements, a
dreamy, loose brushstroke, and a sensitive treatment of the subject,
especially in his use of color."
Source:
"Elijah Baxter (1848-1939)", Antiques and The Arts Weekly, July 21, 2006. Based on information submitted by Bert Gallery.
Elijah's studios:
128 N. Main St., Providence (1892-1899)
"The Towers," Longmeadow Ave., Bayside, Warwick (house/studio designed by Baxter) (1892-1905?)
4 Webster St., Newport (1906-1907)
111 Warner St., Newport (1910-1911)
228 Spring St., Newport (1913-1922)
Clewes Estate, "Spouting Rock", Ocean Ave., Newport (1923-1930)
Elijah Baxter is at the following collections in Rhode Island:
Newport Art Museum:
(Note: Access restricted, appointment required)
1. Charcoal on paper, "Boats in a Harbor" (1870) (created while studying in Antwerp) (new acquisition, not yet accessioned)
2. Charcoal on paper, "Boats in a Harbor" (1870) (created while studying in Antwerp) (new acquisition, not yet accessioned)
Providence Art Club:
(Note: Access restricted, appointment required)
1. Oil painting, "Marine, Newport"
2. Oil painting, "Landscape with Tree"
3. Oil painting, "Chrysanthemums"
4. Oil painting, "Roses" (ca. 1918)
Rhode Island School of Design:
(Note: Access restricted, appointment required)
1. Painting, "Mouth of the Kennebec River" (late 19th-early 20th c.) (acc.# 15.064)
2. Oil painting on canvas, "Rocks Near Newport" (late 19th-mid 20th c.) (acc.# 13.908)
3. Oil painting on canvas , "Towing Through Ice" (late 19th-mid 20th c.) (acc.# 13.909)
Source:
Unveiled: a directory and guide to 19th century born artists active in Rhode Island, and where to find their work in publicly accessible Rhode Island collections
by Elinor L. Nacheman
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