George Ames Aldrich timeline
Aldrich, George Eugene Ames[1]
An in-depth review of the artist's life may be found here.
BORN: June 3, 1872 Worcester, MA[2]
DIED: March 7, 1941 Chicago
MARRIED: 1909 Eugenie Wehrle of Paris, France; c.1915 Actress Mlle. D’Aures of France;[3] December 24, 1922 Esta Grantham of Stockwell, Indiana[4]
TRAINING[5]
1880-1889 Dean Academy, Franklin, Massachusetts
1889-1891 Massachusetts Institute of Technology, studied architecture[6]
1891-1892 (Oct.-Apr.) Art Students League, John Twachtman, Kenyon Cox, H. Siddons Mowbray and William M. Chase[7]
c.1893 Edmond François Aman-Jean
c.1893 Académie Colarossi, Jacques Emil Blanche; L. R. Garrido
c.1893 René Prinet, privately or Académie de la Grande Chaumière
c.1893 Académie Julian, Raphael Collin
1898-1899 Académie Carmen, James McNeil Whistler
1904-1906 Privately, Fritz Thaulow[8]
ART RELATED EMPLOYMENT[9]
mid-1890s-1899 Illustrator, Punch and The London Times[10]
1890s-early 1900s Illustrator for Life, Vogue and Truth magazines[11]
c.1918 Drop curtain decoration, Orpheum theater[12]
1920s Columnist, South Bend Tribune[13]
1928 Guest speaker and critic, Business Men’s Art Association[14]
Portrait commissions[15]
Murals Oliver Hotel and Mar Main Arms, South Bend[16]
TEACHING
1920s Privately in Chicago[17]and South Bend, Indiana[18]
1932 Lake Wawasee, Syracuse, Indiana[19]
RESIDENCES
1872-1892 Worcester, Massachusetts[20]
1893-1900 France[21]
1904-1910 France[22]
1910 New York City[23]
1911-1917 Chicago[24]
1917-1922 Chicago[25]
1922-1926 South Bend, Indiana[26]
1926-1932 Chicago[27]
1932-1941 Chicago
TRAVEL
Quimperlé, Brittany
1900s Holland; Belgium; Italy[28]
1919 Sioux City, Iowa
1919 New England[29]
1920 Europe[30]
1920s Gloucester, Massachusetts; Rockport, Maine
1924 Italy; France; Spain; Germany; England
1926 Western, U. S. including Yosemite; Southern U. S.[31]
c.1932 and c.1933 Rochester, Minnesota[32]
MEMBERSHIPS/OFFICES
Arts Club of Chicago; Association of Chicago Painters & Sculptors; Chicago Galleries Association; Hoosier Salon; Mayflower Society;[33]Palette & Chisel Club; Societe des Artistes Francais; South Side Art Association
HONORS
1925 Second Prize, Richmond, Indiana Art Association[34]
1925 Honorable Mention $100 Prize, Hoosier Salon[35]
1926 (Mar.) Fifth Purchase Prize, Chicago Galleries Association
1926 Mrs. William Ormonde Thompson Illinois Landscape Prize, Art Institute, Chicago & Vicinity[36]
1926 Indiana University Alumni Assoc. Winter Scene Prize, Hoosier Salon[37]
1926 (Nov.) Fourth Purchase Prize, Chicago Galleries Association
1928 (Nov.) Purchase Prize, Chicago Galleries Association
1929 (May) Fifth Purchase Prize, Chicago Galleries Association
1929 Lawrence A. Downs Industrial Scene along the Illinois Central Railroad Prize, Hoosier Salon
1932 Alexander F. Banks Winter Landscape Prize, Hoosier Salon[38]
1936 Honorable Mention, Hoosier Salon
JURIES SERVED
South Side Art Association, Chicago, summer show 1928[39]
GROUP EXHIBITIONS
All-Illinois Society of Fine Art annual 1926
Art Institute of Chicago, American Annual 1921
Art Institute, Chicago & Vicinity 1918, 1919,[40] 1920, 1922, 1925-1928
Arts Club of Chicago annual 1932
Association of Chicago Painters & Sculptors annual 1927, 1929, 1936, 1938
Aurora Art League, Prominent American Artists 1924[41]
Ball State Teachers College, Muncie, Indiana Artists 1933
Carson, Pirie, Scott & Co. Gallery, Works by Chicago Artists 1918
Chicago Galleries Association semi-annual 1926-1929, annual 1937
Chicago Society of Artists at the Hamilton Club, Thumb-box Exhibition 1920
Elgin, Illinois Art Association 1917
Hamilton Club, Chicago Painters of the Forest Preserve of Cook County 1920
Hoosier Salon 1925-1930, 1932, 1933, 1935-1939
Milwaukee Art Museum 1926
Rockford Art Association
Sesqui-Centenial Exposition, Philadelphia 1926[42]
South Shore Country Club , Famous American Painters 1920
ONE, TWO OR THREE MAN EXHIBITIONS
c.1922 Davenport, Iowa, Tri-city Art League[43]
1923 Oliver Hotel, South Bend, Indiana[44]
1923 Progress Club, South Bend[45]
1923 Kokomo Public Library[46]
1923 Stockwell, Indiana First Methodist Church[47]
1923 H. Lieber Company, Indianapolis[48]
1924 South Bend Woman’s Club
1924 Aurora Chamber of Commerce[49]
1924 Aurora Art League[50]
1925 (4/21) Newcomb-Macklin Co., Chicago, Landscapes
1926 (Jan.) Chicago Galleries Association
1926 Fort Armstrong Hotel, Rock Island, Illinois
1926 Alex Johnson Hotel, Rapid City, South Dakota[51]
c.1926 Carpenter Hotel, Sioux Falls, South Dakota[52]
1927 Chicago Galleries Association[53]
1928 Beldin Building, Alden Park Manor, Detroit[54]
c.1929 Ball State Teachers College, auspicies of Muncie Art Association[55]
c.1930 Spink-Wawasee Hotel, Lake Wawasee, Syracuse, Indiana[56]
1932 Ball State Teachers College, auspicies of Muncie Art Association [57]
1936 His studio, 1102 East 46th Street, Chicago[58]
Lamar Hotel with Walter Ufer after 1925, before 1936[59]
PERMANENT COLLECTIONS
Missouri Athletic Club
INTERESTING NOTES
Most of his subject matter was deeply influenced by his time in France. He painted scenes of Brittany villages, flowing streams and the winter landscape. “A pupil of the Norwegian master, Fritz Thaulow, whose mastery in painting snow scenes was acclaimed in Europe, Aldrich has been hailed as the logical American successor to Thaulow’s distinction.”[60]
[1]The Work of George Ames Aldrich, L. Clarence Ball & Alexis Jean Fournier in South Bend Collections, (South Bend, IN: Art Center, Inc., 1982). He was the son of George Wellington and Caroline Richmond Ames. His biography may be found in “Aldrich, George Ames,” National Cyclopædia of American Biography, Vol. 31, p.81.
[2]On his School of the Art Institute of Chicago registration card he listed Paris, France as his “Place of Birth.”
[3]“Art Society Buys Famous Painting, Sioux City Daily Tribune, 7/8/1919 in Art Institute of Chicago Scrapbooks, vol. 39, p.55.
[4]Her parents were Mr. and Mrs. William Henry Grantham, see: “Well Known Artist To Exhibit At Stockwell,” Lafayette Journal and Courier, August 1923, scrapbook p.36/A24. They had one daughter, Elizabeth Grantham Aldrich, who at his death was unmarried, see: “Death Claims G. A. Aldrich,” unknown South Bend newspaper, March 8, or 9, 1941. See also: “Bride of Today,” unknown source, scrapbook, p.46/A48.
[5]obit., “Georg Ames Aldrich,” New York Times, 3/8/1941.
[6]Op. cit., Sioux City Tribune, 7/8/1919. The school has no record of his attendance.
[7]Student record, Art Students League, October 1891. See also: obit., “George Ames Aldrich,” New York Times, 3/8/1941. See also: “Exhibit Works Of Art,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.34/A17, 1923. Date based upon reference to his work at the Art Institute “four years ago”, such work Winter Afternoon was exhibited in 1919 at the Art Institute of Chicago, Chicago & Vicinity, such reference is found in “Art-Loving Public of South Bend Given Rare Opportunity in Exhibit,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.36/A23, 1923.
[8]Aldrich took up landscape painting in 1904 and Thaulow died in Holland on November 5, 1906. See also: op. cit., “Exhibit Works Of Art,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.34/A17, 1923. See also, “Art Exhibit Opens Today At Ball State College,” unknown source, scrapbook p.39/A35, c.1929: “Thaulow and Aldrich painted as companions in France during the past two years of the Norwegian master’s life.” Date taken from adjacent article A36, wherein he began painting landscapes “25 years ago” which was 1904. A noted Thaulow scholar has called into serious question any relationship between the two artists. As Thaulow had a major exhibition at the Art Institute of Chicago in 1903 it is conceivable Aldrich viewed the works there and was influenced significantly by the artist as opposed to having studied directly with him.
[9]It is possible Aldrich was employed by Edward Holslag as a mural artist in Chicago. Holslag had a successful decorating company and the two were close friends having shared a studio, traveling together in Gloucester and working on the growth of the Palette & Chisel Club. See: “Aldrich Exhibit Is Praised By Aurora Artist,” unknown Aurora newspaper, scrapbook p.38/A32, 1924.
[10]In the possession of Peter Lundberg are two watercolors dated 1894 depicting Egyptian tomb scenes. We assume it is unlikely he traveled there, rather he was probably doing studies at the British Museum. His illustration work is mentioned in op. cit., National Cyclopædia of American Biography, Vol. 31, p.81.
[11]op. cit., Sioux City Tribune, 7/8/1919.
[12]Op. cit., Sioux City Tribune, 7/8/1919.
[13]“South Bend Art Circles,” South Bend Tribune, no date, scrapbook p.35. His daughter Betty was six as of this article.
[14]Business Men’s Art Sold by Ballyhoo,” The Chicago Evening Post Magazine of the Art World, 12/4/1928, p.7.
[15]Untitled article, unknown source, scrapbook p.38/A33. See also: “Many Aldrich Paintings Will Remain In City,” unknown Aurora newspaper, scrapbook p.42/A42, 1924. “Mr. Aldrich is now painting a portrait of Shirley, pretty 12 year old daughter of R. H. Conklin.”
[16]The Art of G. Ames Aldrich, brochure, no date, no source, scrapbook.
[17]Chicago artist Florence White Williams was one of his pupils.
[18]“Organization Of Artists Formed,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.34/A16, c.1922. Date based upon exhibition at the Oliver Hotel in S. Bend noted in article. See also: “Organization for Study of Art Plan Of Local Artists,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.35/A18. It seems reasonable to assume the idea for this class was Aldrich’s as a means to provide income and that he would have done this upon becoming a new resident.
[19]“Aldrich Paintings Will Be Shown at Lake Hotel,” unknown source, Aldrich scrapbook p.37/A28. “Found summer Colony at Lake Wawasee, Ind.,” Chicago Evening Post, 8/2/1932, Art Section, p.6.
[20]He returned to Worcester after studies at the Art Students League, see untitled clipping, no source, scrapbook 29/A7.
[21]“Another Art Exhibit Opens Here Tomorrow,” Aurora Beacon-News, 4/30/1924, scrapbook p.32/A8. “His first trip to Paris was in 1893. He remained there for eight years.”
[22]Op. cit., Aurora Beacon-News, p.32/A8. He began interest in landscape painting in 1904 at which time we infer from the article he was studying with Thaulow, which had to be in France. He then would have left at the start of World War I, in 1914, and that would make for ten years which combined with the previous eight woud total eighteen years. Passenger records from the Ellis Island Foundation, Frames 105 and 106, show that he arrived in New York from Rotterdam, Holland, and listed an address in New York as well on the manifest.
[23]Op. cit., National Cyclopædia of American Biography, Vol. 31, p.81.
[24]After New York, he was in the Chicago vicinity, NcofAB, p.81.
[25]His wife attended the school of the Art Institute of Chicago and listed 6725 Stony Island in Chicago as her address in 1918 on the student registration card. His address until 1922 in the exhibition record of the Art Institute of Chicago is Chicago.
[26]He moved to South Bend to be married.
[27]“Aldrich Displays Paintings In City,” no source, scrapbook p.33/A11. Letter to George A. Aldrich from Commission For Encouragement of Local Art, CELA Archives, Ryerson Library, Art Institute of Chicago, 2/24/1928. The letter is addressed to 1026 E. 46th St. in Chicago. “George Ames Aldrich, Well Known Painter, Spending Week-end Here,” unknown Ricmond, Indiana newspaper, 5/29/1932, scrapbook, p.34/A14.
[28]Op. cit., Sioux City Tribune, 7/8/1919.
[29]Op. cit., Sioux City Tribune, 7/8/1919.
[30]Passenger Record, Ellis Island Foundation, Frame 168, line 2. This information shows he departed on Christmas Day 1920 with his wife and arrived in New York on 1/3/1921.
[31]Op. cit., “Aldrich Displays Paintings In City,” no source, scrpabook, p.33/A12, and “Eminent Artist To Exhibit Here,” unknown Rapid City, South Dakota newspaper, 1926, scrapbook p.34. date based upon travel to the West and recent depictions of the Negro.
[32]“Painters ‘Kee Up With the Times,’ George Ames Aldrich, Here, Avers,” unknown Rochester newspaper, scrapbook p.45/A46, c.1933. Date taken because his daughter was eleven and she was born c.1922.
[33]“Noted Artist And His Family Guests Of Mr. And Mrs. Swan At New Fort Armstrong Hotel,” Rock Island Argus, July 1926, scrapbook p.29/A6.
[34]The prize was awarded his painting Christmas Eve.
[35]The prize was awarded his Marooned. Marguerite B. Williams, “$4,000 In Art Prizes Announced At Salon,” Chicago Daily News, 3/11/1925, by inference. [Regular art articles appeared on Wednesdays].
[36]The prize was awarded his painting Frankenstein.
[37]The prize was awarded his painting St. Joe River in Winter.
[38]The prize was awarded his Midwinter-Indiana, “Hoosier Salon Prizes,” Chicago Evening Post, 1/26/1932, Art Section, p.8.
[39]Formerly the group hung unjuried shows, but thought this new system might improve upon the show. “Notes of Art and Artists,” Chicago Tribune, 7/1/1928, p.G6.
[40]His work was described in Evelyn Marie Stuart, “Exhibition By The Chicago Society Of Artists,” International Studio, Vol. 67, April 1919, p.56: “… with their refined Thaulow technique, their ice-locked waters and silent mill, their slight dreamy melancholy and soft colour…”
[41]His painting Winter, was illustrated in American Magazine of Art, Vol. 15, October 1924, p.491.
[42]Op. cit., Rock Island Argus, July 1926.
[43]Op. cit., Rock Island Argus, July 1926.
[44]Op. cit., “Exhibit Works Of Art,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.34/A17, 1923. See also: “Art-Loving Public of South Bend Given Rare Opportunity in Exhibit,” unknown South Bend newspaper, scrapbook p.36/A23, 1923.
[45]Fourth Annual Art Exhibition, (South Bend: Progress Club, 4/3-4/18/1923).
[46]Invitation, “The Department Of Arts Of The Kokomo Woman’s Club Invite Yourself And Friends To An Exhibition Of Paintings By George Ames Aldrich At The Public Library, June 20th To June 30th, 1923.
[47]Op. cit., Lafayette Journal and Courier, August 1923, scrapbook p.36/A24.
[48]“Interesting Exhibit at Lieber’s,” unknown Indianapolis newspaper, scrapbook p.45/A45. See also: An Exhibition of Oil Paintings By George Ames Aldrich, (Indianapolis: The H. Lieber Company, 5/23-6/2/1923).
[49]“Will Exhibit Paintings by Aldrich Here,” Aurora Beacon-News, 4/27/1924, scrapbook p.32/A8.
[50]“Art Life in Aurora,” in “News of the Art World,” supplement, Chicago Evening Post, 7/15/1924.
[51]Op. cit., “Eminent Artist To Exhibit Here,” unknown Rapid City, South Dakota newspaper, 1926, scrapbook p.34.
[52]“Artist Shows World’s Beauty,” unknown Sioux Falls newspaper, scrapbook p.37/A27, c.1926. The date obtained from his exhibition in Rapid City and he was stated as a “Chicago” artist.
[53]R. A. Lennon, “Paintings by Gross, Grigware and Aldrich,” The Chicago Evening Post Magazine of the Art World, 1/18/1927, p.4.
[54]Detroit News, 12/16/1928.
[55]“Ball State Opens New Exhibit Sunday,” unknown source, scrapbook p.39/A36, c.1929. Date taken from “25 years ago” comment referring to when he began painting landscapes. It is conceivable this is the same exhibition referred to as on the time line as 1932 Muncie, Indiana.
[56]Op. cit., “Aldrich Paintings Will Be Shown at Lake Hotel,” unknown source, scrapbook p.37/A28. Date taken from mention he was a Chicago artist.
[57]Op. cit., “George Ames Aldrich, Well Known Painter, Spending Week-end Here, unknown Ricmond, Indiana newspaper, 5/29/1932, scrapbook p.34/A14. See also: Exhibition of Paintings by G. Ames Aldrich, (Muncie: Muncie Art Association, 1932).
[58]C. J. Bulliet, “Around the Galleries: Sudio Exhibition,” Chicago Daily News, 12/5/1936, Art, Antiques and The Artists section, p.2R.
[59]Dates based upon the beginning of the Chicago Galleries Association and the Death of Ufer.
[60]Detroit Free Press, 12/9/1928