Henry Inman, artist

Last year when I visited the Philadelphia Art Museum I asked about the Inman's that they might have. Unfortunately they were both in storage- not the most popular artist in the collection. I found that there were several on exhibition at the Brooklyn Art Museum.

I have started to research this post- colonial artist in earnest. I must admit that the reason is monitory gain. I inherited a small painting from my uncle by Henry Inman (1801- 1845). I brought it to Dennis Calabi, a conservator, about a week ago, and he thinks that every thing about it seems to bode that it is authentic. I gave it to him to clean up. He thought that it would really clean up nicely. There are layers of soot probably from a wood stove and discoloration and darkening from a layer of shellac.

Inman made friends with artist, John Wesley Jarvis, who was a bit of a lush. They made yearly trips to New Orleans, no doubt to enjoy all the joys that great city could offer. Jarvis was known as affable to distraction. In his later years they called him irascible, rather an unkind cut, I thought. Both were classic bohemians of the era. Inman had ups and downs as a painter, but over the years suffered from his indulgences. Yet, Jarvis had a worse time dying in destitute poverty.

Jarvis did the faces and Inman did the details of clothing. Both were extremely quick in execution. While researching I also stumbled into the life of William Dunlap, a painter and playwright. He also happen to keep a diary for almost his entire life. Apparently he had some colorful stories about Jarvis. I am presently sifting through the diary. Unfortunately most entries deal with I took $2 from the bank and sent a certain amount of money here and there. The weather continues to be cold. I have read his documentation of the beginnings of a cholera epidemic in New York City.

Although Inman lived mostly in New York City, for several years he lived near Philadelphia. He had many friends who paid for him to travel to London at the end of his life and create several notable paintings, notably one of Wordsworth. This poet though Inman to be the most consummate American gentleman that he had ever met.

He is known for his subject of children- or children with adults. The painting I have is an older man showing a boy how to graft a tree- a charming piece. A before conservation photo is below.