CHILDE HASSAM

Born near Boston in 1859, Childe Hassam is known as one of the greatest American Impressionist painters. He started his career as a freelance illustrator for publications such as Harper’s and Century. He made his first of four trips to France in 1883, at which time his paintings were atmospheric, generally depicting rainy days or twilight. During his second trip, he began to use the lighter and brighter French Impressionist colors. After 1890, he spent his time painting New York City scenes and New Hampshire and Connecticut landscapes. He was also a major influencer at several Connecticut art colonies, where he began to etch architectural subjects. He ended his career and life on Long Island, where he died in 1935. His entire collection of more than 2,500 works was bequeathed to the American Academy of Arts & Letters, which was later sold to establish a museum collection fund.