Viewing page 9 of 64

This transcription has been completed. Contact us with corrections.

LIVING AMERICAN ARTISTS. 45

summers or so, soon forgot the gruff Colonel's speech, and proceeded with his drawing, illustrating the margin of his school-books with sketches and caricatures. His first essay in color was made at Rome, New York, where he was living with his uncle Gurdon, of whose kindness he speaks with affectionate recollection. Here he attended the collegiate school of Mr. Oliver Grosvenor, and became famous among his school-mates for his illustrations, in water-colors, of cards which were given weekly to the bonus, as prizes, by their teacher. On the walls of his uncle's home hung a number of rude paintings, made by a cousin, one Mathew Brown, representing a justice's court and other amusing scenes. These, crude as they were, were full of character and suggestiveness, and, we are told, had much influence in giving a certain direction to the thought of the art student.

When fourteen years old young Huntington entered Smith's Academy, at New Haven, where he was prepared for college under the tuition of Horace Bushnell, since so distinguished as a preacher and theological writer. "Wilkinson and Hodge," says the artist, "who were my fellow-students, will remember the classic atmosphere we breathed under our enthusiastic master, who inspired us all with a love of letters, for which he himself was much distinguished."

Thence Huntington went to Yale, but the greater part of his college life was spent at Hamilton. There Elliott came, to paint a portrait of President Davis, and this, when completed, being much admired, he was solicited by a number of the young collegians to remain that they might sit for him. He painted the heads of five of them, cabinet size, for five dollars each, a deduction of three dollars per head, the transaction being looked upon as a wholesale one. The painter passed several months among the boys, joining in their sports and sharing in their lighter studies. Here Huntington formed an acquaintance that ripened into a friendship afterwards which terminated only when death laid his cold hand upon the heart of Elliott. 

From Elliott young Huntington borrowed canvas and colors, and under his instruction copied some prints, eventually essaying several small portraits of his classmates, for which he was well rewarded by their laudations and the more valued praise of Elliott. His first noticeable success was made soon after this, when he painted the portrait, life-size, of a solemn-faced fellow who swept the College rooms, and whom the boys had dubbed the "Professor of Dust and Ashes." This was pronounced a hit, and may be seen this day in the library, where it hands beside other works of the artist painted for the College in his maturity.

The walls of the young artist's room were soon covered with his rude sketches and caricatures, and the place became a great attraction to his classmates. Among the drawings thus exposed was one representing "Ichabod Crane Flogging a Scholar." This especially attracted the attention of Professors Worth and Lathrop, who encouraged him to persevere, and eventually persuaded him to enter the Art Department of the New York University, then recently established under the care of Prof. Morse, which he did. Whilst a pupil of the school at Hamilton he was one of the few who witnessed the first successful experiments with the electric telegraph, during the winter of 1835-6. Here also, in conjunction with Cornelius Ver Bryck, afterwards an Academician, Mr. Hobart, now Rev. Dr. Hobart, Cleveland Coxe, now Bishop, and John Jay, now Ambassador to Austria, our young artist founded a club for social and literary purposes on a plan which has since extended to other colleges.

Whilst a pupil of Prof. Morse, Huntington painted a landscape, and a figure subject entitled "A Bar-Room Politician," both of which were purchased by Dr. Parmeley, much to the delight and encouragement of the young aspirant, who now felt as if he had indeed begun his artistic career. His uncle Gurdon, hearing of his progress, sent for him and sat for his portrait. It was a success. His uncle was lavish of his praises and generous with his purse. This was Daniel's first portrait for money, and what wonder if he felt already rich in fortune and in fame as he returned to New York, his uncle's praises singing in his ears, his golden wages jingling in his pocket!

On returning to New York he took a room