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402       LIVING AMERICAN ARTISTS.

York Hotel.  Mr. Gray was born in 1819, in Greenwich street, which contained the residences of the wealthier merchants of that day, sharing favor only with State street and Bowling Green.  He finished his education at Clinton.  His love of art developed soon, for we find him exhibiting at the Academy in 1839, when he was but twenty years old.  On this occasion he exhibited five pictures-four portraits and one composition, "Le Chapeau."  Immediately after his election as an Associate he visited Europe, accompanying Huntington and Ver Breick on the voyage.  In Europe he remained some eighteen months, studying assiduously and returning with many evidences of his industry and of the rapid development of his talent as an artist.  In 1842 he was elected and Academician, and before the close of that year had completed seventy-five paintings.  So much at least in evidence of the working energy so characteristic of him.  

In 1843 he married Miss Clark, a lady of kindred tastes, and to-day a leader among our women artists and President of their Association.

After his marriage Mr. Gray visited Boston, and painted numerous portraits there.  In 1845 he went a second time to Europe to study, accompanied this time by his wife.  He studies closely the works of the old masters in the famous galleries and chapels of Rome and Florence, making copies of them and painting original compositions, many of which were highly valued then and are still much esteemed.  In Rome his second son was born.  He returned to New York in 1846.  From this time until 1861 he worked indefatigably, gaining reputation steadily and taking an active part in the affairs of the Academy, being frequently a member of its Council.  During this period, although his chief labor was portrait painting, he painted a large number of important compositions, classic, historic, and genre. Among these may be named his "Immortality of the Soul," and "Our Father who Art in Heaven," painted in 1847; "Wages and War," "The Apple of Discord," and "Repose," in 1849, the last named being exhibited in England in 1851.  In 1854 he painted the "Wood Spirit;" in 1856, "Hagar and Ishmael;" in 1858, "The Anointing," "Roman Peasants," "Pride of the Village," and "Building of the Ship:" in 1860, "Susannah," "Charity," and "Venus and Paris."  Add to these and other compositions of less note three hundred and eighty portraits, and Mr. Gray's claim to genius, on the score of industry alone, is indisputable, surely. 

In 1861 he was elected Vice-President of the Academy, in place of the venerable Chas. C. Ingham.  This office Mr. Gray held until the election of 1870, when he was chosen President, on resignation of Mr. Huntington.  He contributed two paintings to the Paris Exposition of 1867, the "Venus and Paris," and "Pride of the Village," above noted. 

As Vice-President of the Academy, the same indomitable energy characterized his labors for the benefit of that institution.  Mr. Huntington and Mr. Gray were the originators of the Fellowship Fund, to which the Academy owes its material prosperity.  Of this fund he still continues Treasurer. 

Important among the artist's compositions, more recent than those named, are his "Origin of the American Flag," "America in 1862," "Portia and Bassanio," "St. Christopher," "Geneviève," and "Cleopatra." But, as we have already said, his later years have been chiefly occupied in portrait painting, his work being highly esteemed for general delicacy of treatment and purity of color.  A good example of his best qualities as an artist is his cabinet "Portrait of an Old Lady," at the Spring Exhibition of this year.

Mr. Gray is a man of noticeably fine physique, massive head, well-cut features, and a keen, if somewhat restless eye.  He unites, in a rare degree, the artist and the man of the world.  His sensitiveness is no barrier to his progress; he believes in work and does it, in his studio and out of it, and proceeds to conclusions with determination.  The honors conferred on him by his brother Academicians are the legitimate reward of his faithful labors as their Associate and of his great industry and talent as an artist.