oil on canvas 10 X 16
Lower Bay, New York City by Granville Perkins
Granville Perkins, renowned as a landscape and scenery painter, as well as a book illustrator, entered the world on October 16, 1830, in Baltimore, Maryland. His journey into the arts began at the age of fifteen when he became a scene painter for elaborate theatre productions, collaborating with the Ravel family on notable plays like “Mazulua,” “The Green Monster,” and “Jacko or the Brazilian Ape.”
His formal artistic education commenced in Philadelphia at the Pennsylvania Academy of Art, where he studied under the guidance of James Hamilton (1819-1898), an American landscape painter and etcher. Additionally, Perkins received drawing lessons from William E. Smith. His debut exhibition at the Academy occurred in 1856 when he showcased his painting #306, titled “Cape Croix, Cuba.” This artwork reflected his extensive travels with the Ravels from 1851 to 1856, covering destinations such as Cuba, Jamaica, Yucatan, and Central America.
Returning to Philadelphia in 1856, Perkins resumed studies with James Hamilton. By 1860, he had relocated to New York City, earning a reputation for his expertise in coastal and tropical landscapes. In New York, he contributed as an illustrator for Harper & Bros. in Franklin Square and “Leslie’s Illustrated Newspaper.” Concurrently, he pursued further art studies and received invitations to exhibit at the National Academy of Design, becoming a regular exhibitor from 1862 to 1883.
Around 1870, Granville Perkins ventured to California from New York, embarking on a southward journey by ship around Cape Horn. While his earlier Latin American paintings predominantly featured Cuba, his focus during the 1870s and 1880s shifted to South American tropical landscapes.
Recognized for his proficiency in watercolor, Perkins became a member of the New York Watercolor Society. His watercolors graced the exhibitions of the National Academy of Design and the Chicago Art Institute in 1889 and 1894, showcasing his enduring commitment to artistic expression and exploration.
