Thomas Badger Explained

Thomas Badger (1792–1868) was an artist in Boston, Massachusetts, in the 19th century. He specialized in portraits.^{[1] [2]} He trained with John Ritto Penniman.^[3] Portrait subjects included: John Abbot;^[4] William Allen, of Bowdoin College;^[5] Asa Clapp;^[6] Julia Margaretta Dearborn;^[7] George B. Doane;^[8] Henry Wadsworth Longfellow; Benjamin Page;^[9] Thomas Paul, of Boston's African Meeting House;^[10] Jotham Sewall;^[11] Benjamin Vaughan;^[12] Charles Vaughan; Frances Western Apthorp Vaughan; George Wadsworth Wells;^[13] Jonathan Winship.^[14] Around 1849 a still life by Badger in the collection of the Boston Museum was considered "a highly finished and excellent picture, something in the style of Van Huysom. There is a truth and reality in the articles represented, seldom seen in this class of pictures."^[15]

He married Rebecca Melendy (1795–1852);^[16] children included George Washington (died at age 16 in 1853).^[17] He was also related to the portrait artist Joseph Badger.^[18] He died of "lung fever" in Cambridge in 1868.^[19] Works by Badger are in the collections of the Boston Athenaeum; Maine Historical Society; Colby College; the Brick Store Museum and Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco.^[20]

Further reading

• Thomas Badger: Portrait of an American Painter. Kennebunk, Maine: Brick Store Museum, 1993.

External links

• WorldCat. Badger, Thomas 1792-1868
• Chrysler Museum of Art. Badger's Still Life with Fruit and Wine, c. 1817.

Notes and References

1. Boston Directory. 1823.
2. Boston Almanac. 1841, 1847.
3. http://collectiononline.chrysler.org/OBJECT_edit.asp?id=23763 Chrystler Museum of Art
4. Engraving of John Abbot, M.A., Professor of Ancient Languages &c in Bowdoin College. In: History of Bowdoin College. Boston : Published by James Ripley Osgood and Co., 1882. Drawn by T.Badger; engraved by J.C.Buttre.
5. Maine Historical Society
6. Engraving of Asa Clapp in Merchants Magazine, 1848. Drawn by Badger.
7. http://www.pma-accessonline.org/teachers/dearborn.shtml Portland Museum of Art
8. Engraving of George B. Doane, M.D., by John Cheney after Thomas Badger. Museum of Fine Arts, Boston.
9. Lithograph of Benjn. Page, M.D. Boston: W. Sharp and Co’s Lith., c. 1846. "Badger pinxt." Boston Athenaeum.
10. http://www.npg.si.edu/cexh/brush/index/portraits/paul.htm Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery
11. Lithograph of Sewall. Boston: B.W. Thayer & Co. "Thos. Badger pinxt." "R. Cooke, del."
12. Vaughan Homestead Foundation
13. Lithograph of George W. Wells. Boston: Bouvé and Sharp Lithrs., c. 1844. "Painted by Badger; drawn on stone by W. Sharp." Boston Athenaeum.
14. Brighton-Allston Historical Society
15. Catalogue of the paintings, portraits, marble and plaster statuary, engravings and water color drawings: in the collection of the Boston Museum, together with a descriptive sketch of the institution, and general summary of the natural history specimens, curiosities, etc. Boston: Marden, 1849; p.4.
16. Farmers Cabinet (Amherst, NH), 15 November 1852.
17. Farmers' Cabinet, 11-24-1853.
18. Web site: Harris Antiques, New Orleans .
19. Farmers Cabinet (Amherst, NH), 6 February 1868.
20. http://www.doylenewyork.com/pr/american_art/08PT02/default.htm Doyle New York