A Life of Diverse Pursuits
James Fairman was a Scottish-born American landscape painter, art teacher, art critic, and military officer. Born in Glasgow, United Kingdom, he immigrated to the United States with his mother after the early death of his father, Laurenz Fehrman. After showing an aptitude for drawing, he attended evening classes at the National Academy of Design and later worked as an apprentice at Harper & Brothers publishing in Manhattan.
His life was marked by significant involvement in various public spheres. He was active in the Abolitionist movement and was elected to a school board committee in New York. During the Civil War, he served as a military officer, holding the rank of Colonel in the 96th New York Volunteer Infantry before resigning in September 1862.
Artistic Travels and Later Years
Fairman's artistic journey took him across the globe. After participating in exhibits at the National Academy and the American Watercolor Society, he traveled through Europe, spending time in Palestine, Düsseldorf, Paris, and London. He also spent time in Chicago and taught in Olivet, Michigan, before returning to New York.
His body of work includes:
Questions & Answers
Is there a timeline of James Fairman's works?
A timeline of James Fairman's works exists: the artist's Artwork Timeline page orders the artworks by creation date.
Can I browse James Fairman's works by medium?
To find all works by James Fairman in a given medium, use the artist's All Medium page.
How is James Fairman's career divided into periods?
James Fairman's career unfolds period by period on the artist's Chronicle page: a horizontal timeline of the artworks, grouped into career-period chapters.
Where is James Fairman from?
James Fairman was born in United Kingdom.
