USA > Delaware > History of the state of Delaware, Volume III > Part 27
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Remaining at Christina a very short while, he went to Phila- delphia where he found a better field for the exercise of his talent in art, but in 1716 his child Andreas was baptised at Old Swedes Church at Christina, by his brother, after whom the child was named. In 1721 he received a commission from the vestry of St. Barnabas Church in Prince George's County, Maryland, to paint a canvas of the Blessed Saviour and the twelve disciples at the last supper, for which he was paid seventeen pounds. He also built an organ for the Moravian Church at Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. There are evidences of him being in Philadelphia in 1735, and his death occurred in that city in 1755, his remains being buried in the graveyard of Gloria Dei Church. His wife was named Lydia. He left one son and three daughters. A granddaughter, Elizabeth Henderson, became the wife of Adolph Ulric Wert- muller, another Swedish artist, whose life is touched upon later in this chapter.
Andreas Hesselius, the brother of Gustavus, the artist, was pastor of the Old Swedes Church at Wilmington from 1712 to
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1723. The brothers were both men of fine attainments. An- dreas was not only a preacher of the gospel, but a journal kept by him, which of late years has been translated into English, shows that he was a learned naturalist and that he was well posted in biological studies. A son of pastor Hesselius, bear- ing the same name, became a poet of distinction and was a teacher of English in the University of Upsala. Another son, Gustavus, named after the subject of this sketch, became a painter of note and assisted in the decoration of the Royal Palace at Stockholm.
For most of the facts contained in this sketch credit is due to Mr. Charles Henry Hart, of Philadelphia, who contributed a most interesting sketch of Gustavus Hesselius to "Harper's Magazine, in March, 1898.
ADOLPH ULRIC WERTMULLER.
The years that have gone by since the first settlement of the Swedes on the shores of the Delaware have more and more convinced us of how much we owe to them in the various en- terprises of life. Not only were they a frugal, thrifty, indus- trious people, but in very many of the avocations of life requiring refined skill and intellect we find them in the advanced ranks. It is interesting to find that one of the first portrait painters in Delaware-a man who, by reason of his artistic ability in the field of portrait and historic painting, attained great fame in his day-was born in Stockholm, Swe- den, and after an education in the art that indicates that he had the advantage of the best schools of his time, settled in America, and about the beginning of the last century became the owner of a plantation on the Delaware and a bona-fide resident of this State.
Adolph Ulric Wertmuller, for such was the name of this artist was born in Stockholm, Sweden, February 18, 1751, and died at his plantation on Naaman's creek, in the upper end of New Castle county, on October 5, 1811, and is buried in the Old Swedes churchyard in Philadelphia. When twenty-one
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he left Stockholm, for Paris, to put himself under his cousin Roslin, one of the chief portrait painters of the French capital, and afterwards received instructions from Vien. He was admitted a member of the Royal Academy of Painting and Sculpture on July 30, 1784, upon the presentation of the por- traits of Bachelier and Caffiere, having the year previous been breveted "First Painter of the King of Sweden."
Upon this appointment he painted, for Gustavus III., " Ariadne" and " Marie Antoinette with her two children in the garden of the Little Trianon," both now in the National Museum at Stockholm. In 1787 he painted his famous pic- ture of "Danae Receiving Jupiter in a Shower of Gold," which, for both conception and purity of execution, entitles him to a commanding place among the painters of his time. Driven from France by the exigencies of the French revolu- tion, he sought a home in America, reaching Philadelphia May 13, 1794.
He lived in Philadelphia for two years when, owing to the death of his agent, he was called to Sweden, where he re- mained for four years engaged in the settlement of an estate which he inherited. Returning in November, 1800, he re- sumed his residence in Philadelphia, where he remained until 1803, when he bought a plantation containing one hundred and forty-five acres in Brandywine Hundred, Delaware, near the Pennsylvania line, from John Warder of Philadelphia. This plantation was situate at the confluence of the Delaware river and Naaman's creek. Here he lived in peace and quiet until his death on the 5th day of October, 1811.
On January 8, 1801, he married Elizabeth Henderson, a granddaughter of Gustavus Hesselius, also an artist, a brief sketch of whom appears in this chapter. After Wertmuller's removal to Delaware he seems to have relinquished his brush, and devoted his time largely to farming pursuits, although his death is said to have resulted from the noxious effects of paint on his system.
Three months after his arrival in Philadelphia, in August,
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1794, he painted a portrait of Washington from life. His journal states that Washington sat for him in the Senate chamber. Under date of November 8 of the same year he made this entry in his journal :
" Finished the portrait of General Washington, first Presi- dent of Congress, a black velvet coat, bust, half length canvas. This portrait is for myself."
His original portrait of Washington, scrupulously preserved, was, after his death, sold at auction in Philadelphia with his other pictures for the small sum of fifty dollars. It is now owned by John Wagner, of Philadelphia. Several replicas of the portrait were made on commission from the leading men of that day who were associated with Washington in public affairs; among others one for Robert Morris, the great financier of the revolution.
His will is dated December 25, 1802, while yet a resident of Philadelphia. He describes himself as a portrait painter. He devised all of his estate to his wife, Elizabeth, mentioning in particular a share to which he was entitled by the will of one Joachin Wretman, a merchant of Amsterdam ; he being one of several children to whom a legacy of 40,000 florins of Holland was bequeathed by said will. Under date of July 3, 1811, he made a codicil to his will in which he recites that since the making of his will he had become possessed of the farm on Naaman's creek. This, too, he devised to his wife. The will was evidently proven in Philadelphia, and a copy was recorded in the office of the register of wills of this county in 1820. His name is signed to the will simply as " A. Wert- muller." Wertmuller's wife only survived her husband three months. As far as known there were no children.
For the leading facts in this sketch credit is due to Mr. Charles Henry Hart, of Philadelphia, who published an inter- esting sketch of Wertmuller in the January number, 1897, of " McClure's " magazine.
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FELIX O. C. DARLEY.
Felix O. C. Darley was an artist of national repute who lived for many years at Claymont in this State. He was born in Philadelphia June 23, 1822. His father was an English actor who came to America about 1790. The son was in- tended to enter mercantile life, but while yet a youth his pas- sion for sketching manifested itself, and some of his early caricatures attracted such attention that he readily turned his attention to the making of sketches for the current magazines of that day. His earlier work was along humorous lines. His outline drawings in an early edition of Irving's works gave him much fame, and a little later he illustrated the works of J. Fenimore Cooper and Charles Dickens.
No illustrator ranked higher in his time. He also did good work in colors, some of which were made on orders from abroad. In 1868, after a trip to Europe he published in book form, " Sketches abroad with Pen and Pencil." During the Civil war he painted two or more battle scenes that elicited much admiration. His latest work was a series of illustra- tions of Shakespeare's plays. His portrait work was good, but his fancies, as a rule, ran in other directions. He died at his home, " Wren's Nest " near Claymont on March 27, 1888. His widow survived him and still resides in the old home.
HENRY L. TATNALL.
Henry L. Tatnall was born in the old Tatnall mansion now known as No. 1805 Market street, in Wilmington, December 31, 1829. He was the son of Edward Tatnall and Margery (Paxson) Tatnall. The Tatnall family of Delaware, long prominent in the business and social life of Wilmington, traces its ancestry to Robert Tatnall of Leicestershire, Eng- land, whose widow, with five children came to America in 1725. Edward Tatnall, the great-grandfather of Henry L. Tatnall was the first of the family to settle in Delaware. The early generations were millers by occupation being attracted
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to Wilmington by the fine water power afforded by the Brandywine. Young Henry after a brief term as clerk in his father's mill turned his attention to farming. but that not being to his liking, he returned to Wilmington and established himself in the lumber business which he conducted success- fully for several years.
He early showed an aptness for music, and evinced much interest in musical instruments. He also had a decided talent for drafting, modeling and architecture, but it was not until middle life that he developed a talent for landscape painting. Just after the Civil war James Hamilton, the noted marine artist of Philadelphia, spent some years in Wilmington en- gaged in the prosecution of his work as a painter in oil. Mr. Tatnall was greatly attached to Mr. Hamilton's work. The two men became warm personal friends.
Mr. Tatnall soon found that he, too, could transfer to canvas the landscapes which attracted him. Seemingly without effort, and entirely without study or preparation, he surprised his friends by the merit of his work as a landscape artist. His productions were pronounced by competent judges as of a high order, and he soon found himself so enraptured with his work, and so many patrons anxious to give orders, that he relinquished his lumber business to his sons, and devoted all of his time to art. In many Wilmington homes can be seen choice views from the Brandywine and the Shellpot, that came from the brush of Tatnall, and in several instances his subjects embrace other than local scenes.
Mr. Tatnall was a very companionable man. He attracted by his generosity and sociability a wide circle of friends. His home was the center of a social and literary circle, that was representative of the most cultivated people in Wilmington. Mrs. Tatnall was the daughter of Dr. William Gibbons, and the artist and his devoted wife occupied for many years the old Gibbons homestead on Delaware avenue near Jefferson street, now the site of the apartment house, known as " Vernon Place." Mr. Tatnall died in 1885.
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HOWARD PYLE.
Howard Pyle, author and illustrator, was born in Wilming- ton, March 5, 1853. He was the son of William and Margaret (Churchman) Pyle. His ancestors on both sides of the family were members of the Society of Friends. His mother is re- membered as an unusually bright and cultivated woman with literary tastes of a high order, which, if developed, would have given her a high place in the world of letters. Both father and mother were closely identified with the reforms and intel- lectual movements of their day. The school days of Howard Pyle were spent at the well known academy of T. Clarkson Taylor in Wilmington. When only sixteen years of age he became a student at a school of art established at Philadelphia by Van der Weilen, where for three years he was under the direction of this capable Dutch artist. This embraces all the training received by him in the line of art.
His work as an artist began in 1876, when he contributed short stories and poems to the press, with illustrations by him- self. These proving popular, more pretentious efforts followed in the way of magazine articles, and it was only a few years until he was recognized as among the leading writers and illustrators of that day. His highest rank has been reached as an illustrator. In colonial and revolutionary subjects he has no rival, and it can be said that he now occupies the dis- tinguished place of leader among American illustrators. His untiring industry, his love of art, his conscientious endeavors to raise art in' America to a higher plane, are everywhere recog- nized ; so it is not surprising to those who have watched with interest his upward career, to know of his conspicuous success. Mr. Pyle's literary efforts are of high order and have attracted much attention. Notwithstanding his extremely busy life as an illustrator, he has found time to write at least a dozen books. The first of these, "The Merrie Adventures of Robin Hood," was published in 1883. His last book, "Rejected of Men," published in 1904, is quite in contrast to his other works, in that it is more sober in style, but it gives promise of
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being accepted as the most meritorious of Mr. Pyle's writings. With the exception of a few years, while he was pursuing his art studies, Mr. Pyle's residence has been continuously in Wilmington.
ROBERT SHAW.
A local artist who has attained high rank among his asso- ciates is Robert Shaw, whose modest studio on the rise of Penny Hill, in Brandywine Hundred, is characteristic of the man. Descended from plain folk, his father, David Shaw, came to America from the west coast of Scotland in 1852, and seven years later, Robert Shaw, the son, was born at Rock- wood, Brandywine Hundred, the country seat of Joseph H. Shipley, with whom the father was a trusted and faithful em- ployee for nearly fifty years. Within the walls of the old Shellpot school-house young Robert was taught the rudiments of an English education, but a severe attack of rheumatism in his youth greatly disabled him and unfitted him for the work of the farm.
He early showed an aptness for drawing. This led to mak- ing of pen-and-ink sketches, and then followed the more elaborate etching on copper. In both of these lines he suc- ceeded by dint of his native ability and without the aid of an instructor. His first etching of any pretentions was of the Old Swedes Church in Wilmington. It established his repu- tation at once as an artist. The limited edition struck from the first plate found ready takers, and copies now command a large premium. A later plate of the same subject was made, from which many copies have been struck and sold, not only in Wilmington but throughout the United States. His etching of the " Old Barley Mill " ranks with the best etchings made in this country, and a half dozen Brandywine views are equally good.
Mr. Shaw has shown rare tact in his choice of local subjects and his mechanical work as an etcher is most painstaking and meritorious. Of late years his time has been almost wholly
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engrossed in making a series of etchings of famous historical buildings, which will be published in the near future by a New York house. The enterprise gives promise of unusual success. Mr. Shaw has also shown remarkable ability in water colors. His fame as an etcher is secure for all time; if his talents had been confined to water colors he would have been equally successful.
Personally Mr. Shaw is most genial and companionable. An hour in his studio is thoroughly enjoyable. The work there seen convinces one of the real worth and ability of the artist, and the lesson is learned that a frail constitution and bodily infirmities cannot keep down a man who is intent upon the development of the talents with which he has been gifted by Providence.
FRANK F. ENGLISH.
There lived for about ten years, from 1893 to 1903, near Claymont, an artist named Frank F. English, who gave his entire time to the production of landscapes in water-colors. Mr. English occupied the old mansion known as the Ann Krute property ; in earlier days the "Swan Tavern," situate on the Philadelphia turnpike, near the Practical Farmer. Here he made what proved to be most attractive pictures, and for them he found ready sale. Mr. English came from Mt. Holly, New Jersey. He removed from Delaware in 1903 and has since been living in the suburbs of Philadelphia.
JEFFERSON D. CHALFANT.
Mr. Chalfant has been a resident of Delaware since 1880. Born in Pennsylvania, November 1, 1856, his younger days were spent in that State. Soon after his advent in Delaware he began with the brush, and in 1888 he finished and exhib- ited a facsimile of the United States paper currency then in general use, of the denomination of one dollar and commonly called " A Dollar Bill." The painting was exhibited side by side with a real note, and so exact was the reproduction that
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it was with difficulty that one could be distinguished from the other. This effort attracted much attention and established the reputation of Mr. Chalfant as an artist.
A few years later he painted a facsimile of a postage stamp, which was also favorably received. The Old Clockmaker and The Village Shoemaker from Mr. Chalfant's easel gave still further evidence of his unusual ability in working into a picture the most minute details. "The Card Players," repre- senting two well known residents of Wilmington, was well re- ceived when exhibited, and added still further to the repu- tation of Mr. Chalfant as a painstaking artist. Mr. Chalfant restricts himself almost entirely to work in oil. He has shown decided ability in portraits and could have succeeded in this branch of art if his talents had been directed in that way. Mr. Chalfant spent nearly three years in the academies of Paris. His studio has for ten years been in the Allmond building at Eighth and Market streets, but he is now about erecting a new studio near the Boulevard on Washington Heights.
CLAWSON S. HAMMITT.
For twenty years and more Clawson S. Hammitt has mod- estly, but efficiently essayed the role of an artist. Born in Wilmington in 1857, from his boyhood days to the present, his life has been spent continuously in the city of his birth. His aptness in drawing and sketching developed while yet a student in the public schools, and in his young days the merit of his work attracted the attention of his brother artist of riper years, Henry L. Tatnall.
Intent upon the life of an artist he was able, in course of time, to put himself under the instruction of such famed teachers as William M. Chase, Benjamin Constant and Lefebvre, and proving an apt student, the work of his brush early attracted public attention, and he has won his way by reason of his industry and conscientious work. As a teacher he has few superiors. His services have been in demand for
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years by the public and private schools of the city, and his patience, enthusiasm and painstaking methods have rendered him unusually successful in the line of teaching.
Mr. Hammit is versatile in his lines of work. While pos- sibly excelling in oil, his pastels and water-colors show unusual merit, and in pen-and-ink sketches he also exhibits much talent. He has made several portraits in oil from life that have received high praise. A. portrait by him of David W. Harlan, superintendent of the city schools which now graces the walls of the high school, is true to the life both in pose and expression. Mr. Hammitt's studio has for years been in the third story of the Institute Building, and here his work has been done, quietly but effectively, and he holds the high respect of the community in which his life has been spent, both because of the merit of his work as an artist, and his amiable qualities as a gentleman.
END OF VOLUME III.
GENERAL INDEX TO THREE VOLUMES.
VOLUME I. PAGES 1-395. VOLUME II. PAGES 396-794. VOLUME III. PAGES 795-1127.
A
Aaron, James H., 608 John, 659 Abbington Iron Works, 524, 527 Abbott. Benjamin, 782 Charles D., 284 H. H., 610 S John, 267 Aboriginal tribes, 1 Abrinck, Pieter, 291 Acrelius, Israel. 754
Adams, Alexander H .. 464, 465 Charles M, 214. 279, 280 Daniel Jenifer, 293 Elisha, 281 James, 294. 314. 1085, 1086, 1088 Jacob H., 284, 689 John, 168, 218, 277, 609, 912, 1085, 1086 John II .. 350, 354, 379, 435 John Quincy, 488 Joshua, 661 Joshua T .. 689
Levv. 272, 496
Levin H .. 267, 278
Nathan, 120
Nicholas W., 283
Peter. CO8 Roger, 691. 704 Samuel, 1085, 1086 Thomas. 182 William. 277
Addicks. J. Edward. 234. 235, 246, 247. 248. 249, 251, 254, 255 Adkins, George S .. 260 John W .. 278 Adolphus. Gustavus. 16. 17, 61, 755 Aertson. Jacob, 291, 542 African M. E. Church, 313 Agnew, D). Hayes. 1072 John Holmes, 807
Agricultural Experiment Station, 810- 812 Aiken, James C., 332 Matthew, 527 Walter W., 550
Aikentown, 527
Albertson, John, 631
Alden, John. 642 Simon, 642
Alderdice. John A., 214, 224, 297
Aldred, E. P., 1109
Alexander, Archibald, 264, 272,,297, 512 Thomas. 627 Alison, Francis, 814, 816 Allen, Alvan, 293, 397, 398 Benjamin B., 275
Frank, 284
John. 274 Jesse W., 693
Major W., 283, 690 Richard, 791
Allee. Jacob, 613 James F., €08 J. Frank, 249, 250, 254, 261, 267 Presley, 270
Allaband, William R .. 279
Alleband. William, 277, 639
Allmon, George, 393 Allmond, Charles M., 297, 401 Henrietta, 759 John P .. 342. 391. 424
Alrich, Peter Sigfriedus, 501 Alrichs, Hermanus, 540 Jacob, 43, 45. 46. 48, 50, 256, 265, 303, 451. 509, 540 Jacobus, 540 Peter, 53. 55, 256. 263, 271, 291, 501, 503. 540, 541, 559, 771 Sigfriedns. 540 Samuel, 265 William T., 260
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GENERAL INDEX TO THREE VOLUMES.
Alrichs, Wessel, 512, 540 Alsop, Samuel. 318 Alston, John. 557 J. Cowgill, 557 Altona, 43 American Car & Foundry Co., 373 Fibre Co., 415. 416 Leather Co., 384 Tobacco Co., 465 Andersen, Andries, 461
Anderson, Charles, 528 Enoch, 118, 119, 122, 124, 125, 129, 130, 133, 135, 149
Ezekiel, 609 Isaac, 403
James, 636, 673, 690
John, 293, 686 Joseph, 314
James F., 807
William, 610, 666, 792 Reuben, 609, 669
Andrews, John W., 167, 201, 217, 564 Samuel, 1087
Andries, Jacobus, 291 Roelof, 291, 542
Andriesen, John, 540
Andriessen, Andreas, 456 Claes, 291 Christian, 291 Hendrick, 291 Joost, 456
Andros, Sir Edmund, 55, 57, 256, 296, 451, 456, 536, 558, 580, 652, 661, 749 Angola, 725
Anthony, Henry S., 280, 285
Appleton, Henry H., 195, 274 Robert, 573
Appoquinimink Creek, 287, 543, 544, 546, 548, 549, 560, 565, 566, 567, 570, 759, 907 Hundred, 287, 290, 291, 567, 568, 569. 570, 574, 622, 788, 846
Archer, Alfred E .. 690
Arlington Cotton Mills, 409
Armour, W. S., 1105
Armstrong, Archibald, 265 George D., 350 J. Charles, 621 James, 293 John P., 275
R. Lewis, 293
Robert, 155
Samuel, 279 Theodore F., 275
Arnold, Benedict. 4.95
Arnoux Electric Co., 337
Aron, James P., 237, 280 Art and Artists, 1117 Arthurs, John M., 611
Arthurs, William, 610, 618
Artisans Savings Bank, 352 Asbury. Bishop Francis, 311, 606, 618, 646, 671, 703, 710, 782, 783. 785, 892, 893 M. E. Church, 311, 427, 786
Ascension Church, 460
Ashland, 466, 473
Ashton, Robert, 275
Askew, John. 1067
Henry F., 303, 329, 435, 436, 1067.1068 Aspril, Joseph, 565
L. V., & Son, 562 Leonard V., Jr., 275, 563
Assawoman Canal, 718, 726
Atkins, Charles H., 259 David H., 284 Atkinson, Christiana, 546 Wilmer, 1100 William A., 279, 609
Attix, Thomas, 279
Anbrey, William, 481
Auburn, 466
Aureen, Jonas, 751
Anstin, Levinus, 280
W. W., 1109
B
Bach, Fred. Eden, 295, 315, 1104 Back Creek, 8 Bacon, John S., 284 Thomas, 269 Baggs, William H., 280
Bail, Robert, 119 Bailey, Ezekiel, 467 Isaac H., 283 Joseph, 343 Joseph T., 346 Jonathan. 280, 281, 691
Baird, Charles & Co .. 386 Charles, 328, 386
Henry, 343
Robert S., 386
Baker, Elijah, 703 Frank, 610 G. W .. 550 J. B., 550 Joshua, 405 Joshua G .. 285, 692, 799
John G., 389, 390, 428 Joseph, 276, 277 Richard, 462 W. B., 562 Bald Hill, 470 Baldwin, Thomas, 335 Thomas L. J., 274 William H., 410
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GENERAL INDEX TO THREE VOLUMES.
Ball, John, 251, 484
J. Frank, 288, 301 Lewis Heisler, 247, 249, 251, 253. 254, 255, 259, 261, 262, 342 Newell, 284 Joseph, 483 Baltimore, Lord, 15, 48, 51, 496, 668, 698, 732 & Ohio Railroad, 464
Hundred, 684, 686, 718, 723, 726, 727,728,851 Bancroft, Joseph, 419, 420, 421, 464 John, 275, 421 Joseph & Sons Co., 419, 420, 422 Lucy, 435 Samuel, Jr., 233, 274, 364, 367. 420, 421, 433, 1052 William P .. 366, 367, 420, 421, 434 William, 1105 Baning, John, 157, 258, 266, 611
Bank of Wilmington & Brandywine. 342, 343
Banning, Freeborn, 345 Henry G., 332, 343, 344, 345 James L .. 345 John H., 345
Baptist Church, 775 City Missions, 312 Barbadoes Company, 674 Barber, R. T. J., 245
Barker, Charles, 681 Joseph, 155, 640 Thomas, 663 Barkers Landing, 662, 663
Barkley, J. & Bros. Co., 410
Barksdale, Hamilton M., 354
Barkstead, Joshua, 662, 692
Barle, Thomas, 634
Barlow, Henry M., 275, 361 Barnard, Remsen C., 267 Barnes, John, 276 Isaac. 792 Barney, Francis, 613 Barnhill, George T., 294 Barnum, Loring H., 327
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