By William Langson Lathrop
Located in Lambertville, NJ
Jim’s of Lambertville is proud to offer this artwork.
Signed. Complemented by a hand carved and gilt frame.
William L. Lathrop (1859-1938)
Deemed “Father of the New Hope Art Colony”, William Langson Lathrop was born in Warren, Illinois. He was largely self-taught, having only studied briefly with William Merritt Chase in 1887, at the Art Students League. Lathrop first moved east in the early 1880s, and took a job at the Photoengraving Company in New York City. While there, he befriended a fellow employee, Henry B. Snell. The two men became lifelong friends and ultimately, both would be considered central figures among the New Hope Art Colony.
Lathrop's early years as an artist were ones of continuing struggle. His efforts to break through in the New York art scene seemed futile, so he scraped enough money together to travel to Europe with Henry Snell in1888. There he met and married an English girl, Annie Burt. Upon returning to New York, he tried his hand at etching, making tools from old saw blades. Even though his prints were extremely beautiful, he still was impoverished. Lathrop would return to his family in Ohio, before once again attempting the New York art scene. In 1899, with great trepidation, he submitted five small watercolors to an exhibit at the New York Watercolor Club. He won the Evans Prize, the only award given, and four of the five paintings were sold the opening night. At age forty Lathrop’s career would finally take off and he became an “overnight success
Lathrop came to Phillips Mill for the first time in1898, to visit his boyhood friend, Dr. George Marshall. Shortly after, he and his family purchased the old miller’s house from Dr. Marshall. The Lathrop’s home became a social and artistic center for the growing New Hope colony. Tea and fascinating conversation was the “order of the day” every Sunday. This was a scene fondly recalled by many younger art students that Lathrop taught privately at Phillips Mill. It was common to see groups of his students painting and sketching along the banks of the canal or aboard his canal boat. He had previously taught in the Poconos and at the Lyme, Connecticut Summer School in1907, but Phillips Mill always remained Lathrop’s permanent address.
In 1928, a committee headed by Lathrop was formed to purchase the old Phillips Mill building as a place to hold community gatherings and art exhibitions. The committee had success and in 1929 the Phillips Mill Community Association was formed. This became the center of the New Hope Art Colony holding annual exhibitions and still operating today.
In 1930, Lathrop had built a sailboat he named the “Widge”. For eight consecutive seasons he sailed it along the coast of Long Island...
Category
Early 20th Century American Impressionist Landscape Drawings and Waterco...
