|
|
Ad Code: 3
|
from Auction House Records.
Good Harbor Beach, Gloucester
Artwork images are copyright of the artist or assignee
|
|
|
This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Eben Comins taught for thirty years or more at the St. Paul School of Fine Arts, Wellesley College, the Swain School of Design in New Bedford, and for ten years in his own former studio in Boston. He received a gold medal at the Panama Exposition in 1915, for his contribution to the teaching of art. The methods that he used, gained from his experiences as a pupil and a teacher, have been presented in books.
Comins was born in Boston, where he studies at Harvard. He exhibited in the Paris Salon and widely in the United States. His scope was vast, including landscape, a series of genre "Commentaries on American Life," and fresco painting in the old manner. He perpetuated American youth as engaged in World War I. Comins had a firm foundation of solid technical knowledge, and did not fear losing it by trying something new. He was an avid experimenter.
Comins showed his versatile spirit in his own living; in Washington he shared the winter life of the Capital; in East Gloucester, the North Shore. He did much of his exploration in new fields, and nearly always some teaching in his summer studio overlooking a miniature bird sanctuary. Delighted to see his friends, bareheaded and bronzed, he would dart about the shore in his car visiting, or would receive company in his quaint cottage studio. It was a wonder how he found time to turn out so much good work.
He was sympathetic to the fresh viewpoint of the student, whose youth was his greatest inspiration. "We must keep the door open for him," he said, and often added, "I am proud to be associated with the youngster." A painter so fecund in method should produce work of interest in portraiture; and the portrait reproduced, with frame created and signed by the artist, served to illustrate his vitality and fresh attack.
(Information on the biography above is based on writings from the book, "Contemporary American Portrait Painters," Illustrating and Describing the Work of Fifty Living Painters, by Cuthbert Lee.)
|
This biography from the Archives of AskART:
|  Born in Boston, MA on May 19, 1875. Comins studied in Boston with Tarbell and continued in Paris at Ecole des Beaux Arts. He was active in Los Angeles from 1917-19 during which time he exhibited locally and taught at the state normal school. His cottage in East Gloucester burned in 1922, taking with it many of his paintings. He operated an art school in Washington, DC before his death in Falls Church, VA on April 13, 1949. His work includes portraits and landscapes. Exh: PPIE, 1915 (gold medal); Friday Morning Club (LA), 1917; Kanst Gallery (LA), 1917; Calif. Art Club, 1918; LACMA, 1919; Ehrich Gallery (NYC), 1925; Washington Artists, 1928-31; Washington Art League, 1933; Howard University, 1941. In: Yale University; Supreme Court (Washington, DC; Connecticut State Library; Parrish Museum (Long Island, NY). | Source:
Edan Hughes, "Artists in California, 1786-1940"
American Art Annual 1903-33; Who's Who in American Art 1936-53; Southern California Artists (Nancy Moure); Dictionary of American Painters, Sculptors & Engravers (Fielding, Mantle); Artists of the American West (Doris Dawdy); Washington Post, 4-17-1949 (obituary). | | Nearly 20,000 biographies can be found in Artists in California 1786-1940 by Edan Hughes and is available for sale ($150). For a full book description and order information please click here. |
| ** If you discover credit omissions or have additional information to add, please let us know at registrar@AskART.com. |
|
|
|
|
|
|
Eben Comins is also mentioned in these AskART essays:
The California Art Club
|
|
|