JOHN

See also:

• JOHN VANDERLYN (1776–1852)

VANDERLYN (1776–1852)  , American artist, was born at Kingston, . New York, on the 15th of October 1776 . He was employed by a print-seller in New York, and was first instructed in art by Archibald Robinson (1765–1835), a Scots-man who was afterwards one of the directors of the American Academy . He copied some of Gilbert Stuart's portraits, including one of Aaron Burr, who placed him under Gilbert Stuart as a pupil . In 1796 Vanderlyn went to Paris, and in 1805 to Rome, where he painted his picture of " Marius amid the Ruins of Carthage," which was shown in Paris, and obtained a gold medal there . This success caused him to remain in Paris for seven years, during which time he prospered greatly . In 1812 he showed a nude " Ariadne " (engraved by Durand, and now in the Pennsylvania Academy), which increased his fame . When Aaron Burr fled to Paris, Vanderlyn was for a time his only support . Vanderlyn returned to America in 1815, but did not meet with success; he worked very slowly, and neither his portraits nor various panorama which he exhibited brought him any considerable financial return . In 1842, through friendly influences, he was commissioned by Congress to paint " The Landing of Columbus " for one of the panels in the rotunda of the Capitol at Washington . Going to Paris, he employed to assist him a French artist, who, it is said, did most of the work . He died in absolute want at Kingston, New York, on the 23rd of September 1852 .

Vanderlyn was the first American to study in

France instead of in England, and to acquire accurate draughtsmanship . He was more academic than his fellows; but, though faithfully and capably executed, his work was rather devoid of charm . He painted portraits of Presidents Washington (a copy of Stuart's portrait, for the National House of Representatives), Monroe, Madison, Jackson and Taylor, and of the statesmen Robert R . Livingston (New York Historical Society), John C . Calhoun and George Clinton .