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Martin Johnson Heade was a painter from the state of Pennsylvania who was known in America for his detailed still lifes. With great devotion and enthusiasm, he painted tropical birds, flowers, lakes and salt marshes during his lifetime. One of his most popular motifs, however, was the hummingbird, whose beauty he always admired and drew while travelling. As the son of a general merchant, he grew up in a small village on the Delaware River. One day he made the acquaintance of the painter Edward Hicks. He lived a few kilometers away from Heades home town. Edward Hicks recognized the artistic talent of little Martin and gave him lessons in painting. One of Hades first works of art was a portrait from the year 1839.
As a young adult, Martin Johnson Heade went travelling. He lived in Rome for two years. Back in his home country, he exhibited the works he had drawn so far in an exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Only two years later he exhibited his art at the National Academy of Design in New York. He soon became known to art lovers all over America. Thus Heade travelled through America as a wandering artist before finally settling in New York City. He organized new exhibitions that were well attended. At his exhibitions, visitors learned of his great passion and love for landscape painting, which he had almost perfected over the years.
After his death his works unfortunately fell into oblivion all too quickly. Life in America became harder, the Second World War was approaching, the economic situation was hard. Only at the end of the war, when the American population could already breathe a sigh of relief, a new enthusiasm for the American painters of the 19th century developed in the local art scene. Therefore, in 1943 an art exhibition on the subject of "Romantic Painting in America" was held at the Museum of Modern Art. Some works by Martin Johnson Heade were also exhibited. From this time on, Heade's art experienced another upswing. Young creative people dealt with the works of the painter and his vita. Until today Martin Johnson Heade is one of the most famous American artists of the 19th century.
Martin Johnson Heade was a painter from the state of Pennsylvania who was known in America for his detailed still lifes. With great devotion and enthusiasm, he painted tropical birds, flowers, lakes and salt marshes during his lifetime. One of his most popular motifs, however, was the hummingbird, whose beauty he always admired and drew while travelling. As the son of a general merchant, he grew up in a small village on the Delaware River. One day he made the acquaintance of the painter Edward Hicks. He lived a few kilometers away from Heades home town. Edward Hicks recognized the artistic talent of little Martin and gave him lessons in painting. One of Hades first works of art was a portrait from the year 1839.
As a young adult, Martin Johnson Heade went travelling. He lived in Rome for two years. Back in his home country, he exhibited the works he had drawn so far in an exhibition at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts in Philadelphia. Only two years later he exhibited his art at the National Academy of Design in New York. He soon became known to art lovers all over America. Thus Heade travelled through America as a wandering artist before finally settling in New York City. He organized new exhibitions that were well attended. At his exhibitions, visitors learned of his great passion and love for landscape painting, which he had almost perfected over the years.
After his death his works unfortunately fell into oblivion all too quickly. Life in America became harder, the Second World War was approaching, the economic situation was hard. Only at the end of the war, when the American population could already breathe a sigh of relief, a new enthusiasm for the American painters of the 19th century developed in the local art scene. Therefore, in 1943 an art exhibition on the subject of "Romantic Painting in America" was held at the Museum of Modern Art. Some works by Martin Johnson Heade were also exhibited. From this time on, Heade's art experienced another upswing. Young creative people dealt with the works of the painter and his vita. Until today Martin Johnson Heade is one of the most famous American artists of the 19th century.