19C Women in Gardens - American

 

Abbott Fuller Graves (American painter) 1859 - 1936 Morning n the Garden

Biography of Abbott Fuller Graves (1859-1936)

Abbott Fuller Graves, born on April 15, 1859, in Weymouth, Massachusetts, known for his vibrant floral compositions & detailed architectural scenes. Graves initially trained as a horticulturist, a background that deeply influenced his artistic focus on flowers & garden settings. His formal art education began at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology & continued in Paris at the Académie Julian, where he absorbed the techniques of French Impressionism, which significantly shaped his style.

Graves specialized in floral still lifes & garden scenes, celebrated for their rich color, intricate detail, & strong sense of light. Throughout his career, Graves exhibited at major venues such as the Paris Salon, the National Academy of Design in New York, & the Art Institute of Chicago.

Graves played a significant role in the American art community as a teacher in Boston. He influenced many students with his knowledge of both horticulture & art. He continued to paint & exhibit until his death on July 15, 1936, in Kennebunkport, Maine. 

Bibliography

Books:

Falk, Peter Hastings. Who Was Who in American Art: 1564-1975. Sound View Press, 1999.

Gerdts, William H. American Impressionism. Abbeville Press, 1984.

Porter, Dean A. American Impressionism & Realism: The Painting of Modern Life, 1885-1915. Metropolitan Museum of Art, 1994.

Reed, Walt. The Illustrator in America, 1880-1980. Madison Square Press, 1984.

Articles:

Dearinger, David B. "Abbott Fuller Graves: Painter of Flowers & Rustic Architecture." American Art Review, vol. 16, no. 1, 2004, pp. 108-115.

Gerdts, William H. "The Lost Garden: Abbott Fuller Graves & His Boston School Connections." The Boston Art Club Journal, vol. 9, no. 2, 1995, pp. 45-53.

Murray, Ruth. "Horticulture in Art: The Floral Paintings of Abbott Fuller Graves." The Magazine Antiques, vol. 144, no. 4, 1993, pp. 224-230.

Weinberg, H. Barbara. "American Impressionists Abroad & at Home: Paintings from the Collection of the Metropolitan Museum of Art." The Metropolitan Museum of Art Bulletin, vol. 54, no. 3, 1997, pp. 22-25.