ARCHITECTS AND DESIGNERS Copley Fine Art Auctions Arthur Fitzwilliam Tait (1819-1905)Known as one of America’s earliest
sporting artists, A.F. Tait was born in Liverpool, England and trained
as a lithographer for Agnews, an art dealer in Manchester. While in
their employ he was exposed to the works of Edwin Landseer and John
Frederick Herring and taught himself to paint by copying works at the
Royal Institute.
Tait also met the American Indian painter George Catlin, and assisted
him with his traveling art exhibit throughout the Continent. In 1850,
Tait came to America where he pursued his interest in wildlife and
hunting. He worked from a studio in New York City, but spent a great
deal of time in the forests of the Adirondack region where he acquired
excellent first-hand knowledge of hunting and fishing that he brought to
his paintings.
His realistic hunting scenes, with their strong narrative qualities were
made into prints and distributed by Currier and Ives.From 1850 to 1860,
Tait also painted the American frontier and game still lifes. His work
influenced a succeeding generation of artists including Michael Harnett.
He is known to have collaborated on paintings with Jon Hart and he made
a series of paintings of Indians and western life with Louis Maurer.
His work is included in the Amon Carter Museum, the Shelburne Museum,
the Addison Gallery of American Art and the Corcoran Gallery, among
others.
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