Harrison Bird Brown Art

A fine New England landscape with field and trees by American artist Harrison Bird Brown (1831-1915). Brown was born in Portland, Maine, and became well known for his New Hampshire White Mountain landscape paintings, as well as his marine paintings of Maine’s Casco Bay...

Signed lower right. Harrison Bird Brown was born in 1831 in Portland, Maine, and is best known for his White Mountain landscapes and marine paintings of Maine's Casco Bay. By 1860, Brown was being praised as a leading American marine painter. Known also as Harry B., Henry B., and some times mistakenly as Henry Box Brown (Eason), he began an apprenticeship at age 21 with house and ship painters Forbes and Wilson. He then became a banner and sign painter, under the name "H. B. Brown, Banner & Ornamental, Painter". Landscape painting was popular in the mid 19th century, thanks in part to the influence of Charles Codman (1800-1842), whose paintings were collected for their very romantic sentiments. It is possible that Brown saw examples of Codman's poetic paintings, and was influenced by his works. Brown was one of the early artists to paint the coastline of Maine's Monhegan Island, where he depicted the headlands as awesome, mystical forces. Humanity versus nature, and the human relationship to nature, themes prevalent in mid and late-19th century literature and philosophy, figured frequently in his seascapes. He often painted in the White Mountains, and his name can be found in the guest registers of many places artists frequented in those mountains. The coast of Maine was also a favorite painting venue of Brown's for over thirty years. He depicted the wholesome outdoor environment of the state, with special fondness for the Casco Bay area and Grand Manan...