Making a name for himself: Life and art of F. Edwin Church
Date
Location
Sponsors
Admission
Open to the public
RSVP required
FREE | Salmagundi members
About the Event
Join Preservation Long Island, The Victorian Society, and the Salmagundi Club for an illustrated talk about the life and art of F. Edwin Church (1876–1975), presented by Janice L. Wiley, director of the F. Edwin Church Catalogue Raisonné Project.
Despite sharing a name with the famous American landscape painter, Church became a celebrated artist in his own right. He chose to sign his paintings “F. Edwin Church” to distinguish himself professionally as he endeavored to create his own artistic identity. Born in Brooklyn, Church briefly studied architecture before realizing his true passion for painting. He enrolled in art classes in New York and Paris, studying with notable artists and exhibiting his art—including at the Salmagundi Club, where he was a long-time member.
Rooted in the traditions of Impressionism and Japonisme, Church’s work nevertheless reflects modern life in the twentieth century. Critics praised his opulent portraits of women in contemporary fashions blended with elements of Japanese art and design. He also found inspiration in the world around him, filling his canvases with vibrant flowers, birds, and urban and natural landscapes he encountered abroad and on Long Island.
Hungry?
Grab a bite to eat after the event from our dining room (a normally member-only benefit)! Ticketed attendees who would like to stay for drinks and dinner should make dining reservations in advance via our Reservations page with the message “Church talk”.