Estimated Price:

$30,000 - $40,000

Realized Price:

$34,500

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EDWARD MITCHELL BANNISTER
(American, 1828-1901)
FISHING FOLK, KING PHILLIP ROCK, MOUNT HOPE
oil on canvas;
signed and dated E.M. Bannister '92, l.r.; tape on verso frame reads: Purchased from Providence Artists Association 12/89;
18 x 24 inches; framed: 28 1/2 x 23 inches

Provenance: A Rhode Island Collector

Other Notes: Edward Bannister, one of the most respected Rhode Island artists in the late 19th century, also holds the honor of being the first African American artist to win National recognition. He was the only New England artist to earn a medal at the 1876 Philadelphia World Centennial Exhibition for his painting Under the Oaks. Bannister was born in Canada to a white mother and black father of Barbados descent. The abolishment of slavery in Canada, allowed Bannister to pursue his interest in art. In 1848, he moved to Boston and worked as a Barber serving the African American community, while he continued to paint and experiment with photography. During the 1860's, Bannister took evening classes with Dr. William Rimmer at the Lowell Institute of Painting. By 1870, Bannister and his wife, Christina Carteaux, a successful business woman, had settled in Providence, Rhode Island. The Barbizon style of painting had a huge influence on Bannister's landscapes, as did his faith. In addition to his art career, he was one of the founders of the Providence Art Club and was instrumental in the establishment of the Rhode Island School of Design. Bannister is undoubtedly one of the most important African American artists of the late 19th century.