Lucien Whiting Powell

Place: Upperville

Born: 1846

Death: 1930

Biography:

Lucien Whiting Powell was a renowned landscape painter who gave the village of Airmont, Virginia its name for its scenic westward views. Born in 1846, near Upperville, Virginia, Powell served with the Confederate Army from 1863-65 and later studied with Thomas Moran at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts.

Career and Training

Powell's artistic career was marked by his travels to Europe in 1876, where he studied with Fitz at the West London School of Art. He was heavily influenced by the works of Joseph Mallord William Turner and Thomas Cole. In 1880, Powell married Nan Fitzhugh and settled in Washington, D.C., where he maintained a studio residence at 1923 G Street Northeast until his death in 1930. Powell's paintings were widely collected and exhibited at local and national art exhibitions, including the Louisville Industrial Exhibition in the 1870s. He was also a member of several local art organizations, such as the Landscape Club, the Society of Washington Artists, and the Washington Watercolor Club.

Notable Works and Exhibitions

Some of Powell's favorite scenes to paint included Venice, Rock Creek Park in Washington D.C., the Grand Canyon, and scenes from the Holy Land and Egypt. He was also known for his exhibitions on ocean liners, with his first exhibition taking place in 1891. For more information about Powell's works, visit Thomas Moran or check out the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Sterling and Francine Clark Art Institute on Joseph Mallord William Turner.

• Landscapes dominated Powell's career, with many of his works showcasing the beauty of nature.
• Powell was patronized by Senator and Mrs. John B. Henderson, who established a studio for him in their "Castle."
• His paintings were owned by notable figures such as J. Edgar Hoover, who had over a dozen of his works.

Powell's legacy can be seen in the many art institutions and museums that showcase his work, including the T.W. Wood Gallery and Art Museum and the Galerie Wimmer. For more information about these institutions, visit Thomas Cole. Powell passed away on September 27, 1930, at the Washington Sanitarium in Takoma Park, Maryland, and was buried at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, D.C.