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ARTIST JOHN VANDERLYN.
 
ACCOUNTS OF THE LIFE AND DEATH OF A FAMOUS KINGSTON PAINTER.

He Passed Away with His Hand Raised as if in the Act of Painting——Funeral Services——Resolutions Passed——Historical Facts Given.

A reporter of THE FREEMAN found an old paper, to-day, giving a full account of the life and death of John Vanderlyn, Kingston's famous painter, which will set at rest conflicting statements made by old citizens, whose memory of events which occurred thirty-four years ago, are not the clearest. The articles referred to, were written by Robert Gosman, who was chosen by Vanderlyn to write his life, and the facts stated therein are no doubt correct. John Vanderlyn died on September 23, 1852. He had been "ailing" a few days. The night before his death he visited the Hon. Marius Schoonmaker, of Kingston, who had just returned home from Washington. He was then a Representative in Congress. Mr. Schoonmaker intended to engage Vanderlyn to paint portraits of certain members of his family. When Vanderlyn went to bed, on the night of September 23, he said to his landlord, in answer to an offer of medical assistance, that he wanted "nothing." On the morning of September 24 he was found dead in his bed, with his hand raised, as if it were in the act of painting. He was buried in Wiltwyck Cemetery. The funeral services were held in the Old Reformed Dutch Church. The building was filled to its utmost capacity. The opening prayer was made by the Rev. J. Smuller. A discourse followed by the Rev. Dr. Westbrook, and the closing prayer was made by the Rev. Dr. Hoes, Pastor of the Church. The text of Dr. Westbrook's sermon was from Exodus, thirty-sixth chapter, and the first and second verses. There was also a meeting of citizens at the Court House. The Chairman was John Beckman. Marius Schoonmaker stated the purpose of the meeting and Robert Gosman offered a resolution, the preamble of which is as follows:

John Vanderlyn, the American artist, having been removed by death from the scene of his labors, we, the citizens of Kingston, the place of his birth and decease, desirous of rendering a mete tribute to his worth as a man, and to express our recognition of genius, which has shed a luster upon his native village, do resolve.

Resolutions then followed, in substance, that the village authorities should take charge of the funeral, that bells be tolled, and that citizens wear badges of mourning.

A resolution was also passed, recommending that the village authorities purchase one of Vanderlyn's pictures. Remarks were made by the Rev. Dr Westbrook and John VanBuren, on the life, character and death of the deceased.

John Vanderlyn was born in the Village of Kingston, October 16, 1775. His father's name was Nicholas Vanderlyn, and the maiden name of his mother was Sarah Tapden. The fact is stated that Peter, the grand-father of John, was a portrait painter of no mean power, and that Nicholas, the father of John, showed the same bent in the humbler walk of sign painter. John Vanderlyn showed a strong bias for art, and at an early age, he was encouraged by a brother, who was a physician. John was educated at the Kingston Academy. In his seventeenth year he went to New-York City, where he became a clerk of one Barrow, then the only dealer in artists' materials and fine European engravings in that City. While there he also attended a drawing school. It seems he was greatly aided and encouraged by a merchant named Pintard, for he often spoke of his kindness to him. Vanderlyn returned to Kingston in 1795. He then commenced to paint in oil colors, copying portraits of Aaron Burr and Egbert Benson, which had been made by Artist Stewart. The copy of Burr's portrait was purchased by Major VanGaasbeck, [the same VanGaasbeck so often spoken of in THE FREEMAN] who was then Member of Congress from this District. During the session of Congress following, VanGaasbeck mentioned to Aaron Burr, who was then a Senator, that he had such a picture. Burr had a good memory. In 1795, when John Vanderlyn was in New-York, he was sought out by Burr, and to him Mr. Vanderlyn owed the benefit of Stewart's tuition and the means of enjoying the advantages of the schools and galleries of Paris.

A few days ago there was published in THE FREEMAN a letter showing that Burr wrote to Van Gaasbeck, requesting an introduction to Vanderlyn. This led to the meeting in New-York, in 1795. Vanderlyn went to Paris, in 1798, where he studied and worked hard. In 1801, he returned to New-York, and pursued his vocation, being principally engaged in painting portraits. While there he visited Niagara, at the suggestion of Colonel Burr. In 1802, he returned to Europe, carrying with him the sketches of Niagara Falls. He had two of his views engraved in London. Meeting Washington Allston, there, they went to Paris together by way of Holland. In 1803, he painted his first historical sketch, "The Murder of Jane McCrea." In 1805 he went to Rome and painted "Marius." This was his first work of mark, and for which he was awarded the first medal on its exhibition in the Louvre, at Paris. He returned to Paris in 1807, remained there until 1815, when he again returned to the United States, and to Kingston. In 1817-18, he painted in Kingston "The Garden of Versailles," which he exhibited in the Rotunda, at New-York. The history of the Rotunda, and its financial disaster, has been detailed in THE FREEMAN. In 1838 the United States Government gave him a commission to fill one of its panels in the Rotunda of the National Capital, and he also painted portraits of a number of distinguished men. In 1838 he again went to Paris and painted "The Landing of Columbus," besides making many copies from old masters. In 1846, he returned to the United States and remained in this country the remainder of his life. During that time he painted a full length portrait of President Taylor for the corporation of New-York. In closing the above statement of facts, it may be said that the statement that Vanderlyn was born in a brick house, on Wall-street, Kingston, is erroneous. The Hon, Marius Schoonmaker says that the old Vanderlyn house, which stood on ground now occupied by Wall-street, near its junction with John-street, was a large stone house——a double house——two stories in height. It was burned when Kingston was destroyed, during the Revolution, and was never rebuilt. It stood a ruin, roofless, with only three walls intact, the front having crumbled down. It was torn down and removed, when Wall-street was opened, between John and North-Front-streets.
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