Skip to main content

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

American, 1863-1930

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris was an American painter best known for his series of 78 scenes from American history, entitled The Pageant of a Nation, the largest series of American historical paintings by a single artist. He was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on August 18, 1863, as the son of Stephen James Ferris, a portrait painter who was a devotee of Jean-Léon Gérôme (after whom he was named) and also an admirer of Mariano Fortuny. He grew up around art, having been trained by his father and having two acclaimed painters, Edward Moran and Thomas Moran, as uncles. Ferris enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts in 1879 and trained further at the Académie Julian beginning in 1883 under William-Adolphe Bouguereau. He also met his namesake Jean-Léon Gérôme, who greatly influenced Ferris's decision to paint scenes from American history. As Ferris wrote in his unpublished autobiography, “Gérôme's axiom was that one would paint best that with which he is most familiar." His early subjects were Orientalist in nature, that movement having been in vogue when he was young. Some of his material was original, some of it took after Fortuny, but he was skilled enough, despite never having had any experience with art. In 1882, he exhibited a painting entitled Feeding the Ibis, which was valued at $600. By 1895, Ferris had gained a reputation as a historical painter and he embarked on his dream of creating a series of paintings that told a historical narrative. In 1898, he sold one of these, General Howe's Levee, 1777, but he later regretted it, realizing that such a series could not be complete if the separate paintings could not be kept together. Ferris, who had married Annette Amelia Ryder in 1894 and with whom he had a daughter named Elizabeth Mary, died in Philadelphia on March 18, 1930.

to
1
2
2
1
1
2

Use search to find more

“A Page of Love”
“A Page of Love”

“A Page of Love”

By Jean Leon Gerome Ferris

Located in Southampton, NY

Here is a wonderful original watercolor and gouache depicting a scene from Emile Zola book “A Page of Love” by the American artist, Jean Leon Gerome Ferris....

Category

1890s Victorian Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Watercolor, Gouache, Archival Paper

Related Items
1910's Art Deco Erte Gouache Painting Original Hand Signed Rare French Costume
1910's Art Deco Erte Gouache Painting Original Hand Signed Rare French Costume

1910's Art Deco Erte Gouache Painting Original Hand Signed Rare French Costume

By Erté

Located in Buffalo, NY

A rare original signed Art Deco gouache on paper by Erte (Romain de Tirtoff) . This stunning theatrical costume design is signed Erte at the lower right. The piece is 20 by 18 fram...

Category

1910s Art Deco Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Gouache, Archival Paper, Pencil

Courtship,  British Couple walking in a landscape in Edwardian dress
Courtship,  British Couple walking in a landscape in Edwardian dress

Courtship, British Couple walking in a landscape in Edwardian dress

By John Strickland Goodall

Located in Woodbury, CT

John Strickland Goodall John Strickland Goodall was born in Heacham, Norfolk on 7 June 1908. He was the son of a famous heart specialist whose boasted seven generations of medics, a...

Category

1980s Victorian Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Paper, Gouache

"King of the Friendly Islands" (Tonga); Engraving from Captain Cook's 3rd Voyage
"King of the Friendly Islands" (Tonga); Engraving from Captain Cook's 3rd Voyage

"King of the Friendly Islands" (Tonga); Engraving from Captain Cook's 3rd Voyage

By John Webber

Located in Alamo, CA

"Poulaho, King of the Friendly Islands, Drinking Kava" is an engraving created by William Sharp (1749-1824), from a drawing by John Webber (1752-1793), who was the artist on Captain James Cook's 3rd and final voyage of discovery. It was published in the atlas of "A Voyage to the Pacific Ocean Undertaken by the Command of His Majesty, for Making Discoveries in the Northern Hemisphere", the official British Admirality sanctioned journal published upon completion of the voyage in London in 1784 by Strahan & Cadell. Captain Cook visited Tonga on his 3rd voyage, which he named The Friendly Islands because of the warm welcome he and his crew received, unlike some of the other more hostile Pacific islands. The engraving depicts Cook and his men observed a kava ceremony at the village of Mu’a on Tongatapu. King Paulaho sits in the centre foreground, his back to the spectator with a man kneeling before him. The ceremonial mat depicted behind Paulaho indicates that nobody was allowed to sit behind him. The figure in the centre holds a single cup, referring to the Tongan custom of offering the cup to the king first. Kava is native to the islands of the South Pacific and was first described for English readers in 1768 by Captain James Cook. The kava root has been used for centuries as a central feature of ceremonies and celebrations because it was able to bring about a calming and pleasant social atmosphere. The root was crushed and processed into coconut milk to become the focal ceremonial beverage, simply referred to as kava. This engraving is presented in a Koa wood frame and a white mat. Koa wood is legendary in Hawaii. There are occasional faint spots, but the print is otherwise in very good condition. This amazing Koa wood is native to Hawaii and it is known for the deep rich colors and varied grain pattern. Koa has an honored heritage in Hawaii and is highly revered and sacred. The word “koa” means “warrior” in Hawaiian. The warriors of King Kamehameha the Great, created canoes and weapons from a wood plentiful on the Big Island of Hawaii. This wood became synonymous with the warriors themselves, and it became known as koa. There are three other engravings listed from the official journal of Captain Cook's 3rd voyage available that are presented in identical Koa wood frames and mats (LU117324682422, LU117324684052, LU117324684032). They would make a wonderful grouping for a display of 2, 3 or 4 prints. A discount is available for a grouping depending on the number of items included. Captain Cook is remembered as one of the greatest explorers and navigators in history. His explorations included Australia, New Zealand and islands of the South Pacific and the northwest coast of North America. Hawaii was discovered by Captain Cook during this voyage. Hawaii was originally called The Sandwich Islands in honor of The Earl of Sandwich...

Category

1780s Realist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Engraving

BERATUNG
BERATUNG

BERATUNG

By Käthe Kollwitz

Located in Santa Monica, CA

KATHE KOLLWITZ (German 1867 -1945) BERATUNG, 1895 (1945) (Klipstein vii/vii) Etching and aquatint, 1895 (Later Imp), Image 11 ½” x 7", sheet 19 x 13 ¾”. Unsigned, with the von de B...

Category

1890s Expressionist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

ENDE
ENDE

Käthe KollwitzENDE, 1895 (1945)

$750

H 9.625 in W 12 in

ENDE

By Käthe Kollwitz

Located in Santa Monica, CA

KATHE KOLLWITZ (German 1867 -1945) ENDE, (Klipstein 37 ) Etching and aquatint with the von de Becke blind stamp in the lower right. Printed around 1945. Unsigned posthumous impres...

Category

1890s Modern Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Etching

HAMBURGER KNIEPPE
HAMBURGER KNIEPPE

HAMBURGER KNIEPPE

By Käthe Kollwitz

Located in Santa Monica, CA

KATHE KOLLWITZ (1867-1945) HAMBURGER KNIEPPE, 1901) (K.58 IIIb) Soft Ground Etching, Plate 9 ¾ x 8 ¼ sheet 10 ½ x 13 ¾. With the von de Becke blind stamp in the lower right. Prin...

Category

Early 1900s Expressionist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Etching

Follower of David Cox, 19th Century watercolor, Figures on the waterfront
Follower of David Cox, 19th Century watercolor, Figures on the waterfront

Follower of David Cox, 19th Century watercolor, Figures on the waterfront

By (Circle of) David Cox

Located in Harkstead, GB

A dramatic 19th Century watercolor painted by a competent hand in the style of David Cox the Elder. A spirited scene with weather-beaten figures on the waterfront looking out to sail...

Category

19th Century Victorian Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Theater Sketch 2

Theater Sketch 2

By Alexander Oscar Levy

Located in Buffalo, NY

Alexander O. Levy was a painter, illustrator, printmaker and designer who was born in 1881 in Bonn, Germany. He died in 1946 in Buffalo, New York. At age three, he was brought to ...

Category

1930s Art Deco Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Charcoal, Gouache

Stage Sketch1

Stage Sketch1

By Alexander Oscar Levy

Located in Buffalo, NY

Alexander O. Levy was a painter, illustrator, printmaker and designer who was born in 1881 in Bonn, Germany. He died in 1946 in Buffalo, New York. At age three, he was brought to ...

Category

1930s Art Deco Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Archival Paper, Charcoal, Gouache

Le Chat et Les Fleurs
Le Chat et Les Fleurs

Le Chat et Les Fleurs

By Édouard Manet

Located in Middletown, NY

Etching and aquatint on cream laid, watermarked Rives paper. 6 5/8 x 5 inches (167 x 126 mm). Sixth and final state, a posthumous impression. A fine, inky impression with full margin...

Category

1860s Realist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Etching, Aquatint

Interiors VI: Soundings Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1989
Interiors VI: Soundings Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1989

Interiors VI: Soundings Etching, Surrealist, Signed, 1989

By Peter Milton

Located in New York, NY

Contemporary artist Peter Milton created this etching and engraving entitled "Interiors VI: Soundings" in 1989. The printed image size is 29 7/8 x 23 13/16 and paper size is 36 x 29 inches. This impression is signed, dated, and titled in pencil and inscribed “93/175” – the 93 impression of 175. “I do love to draw. I feel that I am being granted membership in the Brotherhood of Merlin, conjuring forth some apparition. As a drawing develops, I sense a vague presence coming more and more into focus, something in a white fog emerging and becoming increasingly palpable.” – P. Milton, “The primacy of touch. The Drawings of Peter Milton” “Working in layers, Milton begins with drawings based on people and places, with nods to Western art history and culture. He is a master of the appropriated image, a term that may conjure Andy Warhol and his Pop Art comrades. But Milton steps further back in history, avoiding the Pop sense of cool advertising and popular culture references. Instead, a broader cultural past is tapped through historical photographs of key players, architecture, and locales, which he reinvents by hand. He adds content drawn from his life as an avid reader – always with multiple possible interpretations – thus incorporating deeper meaning in his cinematic worlds. Elements of Greek mythology, classical music, art history, and history coalesce in his images, which embrace the messiness, sorrow, and elation that is life. One is hard-pressed to imagine a more erudite, skilled, passionate, and cheeky soul." – T. L. Johnson and A. Shafer Peter Milton was born in Pennsylvania in 1930. He studied for two years at the Virginia Military Institute...

Category

Late 20th Century Surrealist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Engraving, Etching

Early 19th century French watercolor of figures in a wooded landscape
Early 19th century French watercolor of figures in a wooded landscape

Early 19th century French watercolor of figures in a wooded landscape

Located in Woodbury, CT

Well-drawn early 19th century French watercolor of a family in a wooded landscape. Framed in an antique water gilded frame, which might be the original to the piece. The quality o...

Category

Early 19th Century Victorian Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Paper, Watercolor

Two 1890s Young Women Wading at the Beach
Two 1890s Young Women Wading at the Beach

Two 1890s Young Women Wading at the Beach

Located in San Francisco, CA

A woman must remain fashionable, even when at the beach. This late 19th-century gouache and watercolor piece, likely created between 1885 and 1900, depicts two lively young women in ...

Category

Late 19th Century Victorian Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Wood, Paint, Paper, Gouache

THE RAG GATHERERS
THE RAG GATHERERS

THE RAG GATHERERS

By James Abbott McNeill Whistler

Located in Santa Monica, CA

JAMES ABBOTT McNEILL WHISTLER (1834-1903) THE RAG GATHERERS 1858 (Glasgow 29 v/v, - K.23) Etching on laid paper, signed and dated in the plate, image 5 7/8” x 3 ½”, full sheet 8 x...

Category

1850s Impressionist Jean Leon Gerome Ferris Art

Materials

Etching

Jean Leon Gerome Ferris art for sale on 1stDibs.

Find a wide variety of authentic Jean Leon Gerome Ferris art available for sale on 1stDibs. You can also browse by medium to find art by Jean Leon Gerome Ferris in archival paper, etching, gouache and more. Not every interior allows for large Jean Leon Gerome Ferris art, so small editions measuring 4 inches across are available. Customers who are interested in this artist might also find the work of Antoine Calbet, Margaret Sweet Johnson, and Anne Muntges. Jean Leon Gerome Ferris art prices can differ depending upon medium, time period and other attributes. On 1stDibs, the price for these items starts at $1,050 and tops out at $1,250, while the average work can sell for $1,150.

Artists Similar to Jean Leon Gerome Ferris