John Francis Murphy (December 11, 1853 – January 30, 1921) was an American Irish landscape painter. His style moved from poetic
Tonalism to the innovative application of multiple layers of pigment, in order to create a sparse, brooding landscape, later in his career.[1]
Biography
John Francis Murphy was born at
Oswego, New York on December 11, 1853. His father, Martin Francis Murphy (1822-1899) had immigrated from
Waterford to Oswego where he married Hannah Gregory (1839-1899).[2] In 1870, he moved to
Chicago and became a sign painter. After being dismissed from his job, Murphy moved to
New York City where he taught himself painting, in 1875.[3][4] In 1887, he built a studio in
Arkville, New York and founded the
Pakatakan Artist Colony.[4][5]
He first exhibited at the
National Academy of Design in 1876, and was made an associate in 1885 and a full academician two years later. He became a member of the
Society of American Artists in 1901 and of the
American Watercolor Society.[6] At first influenced by
Wyant and
Inness, after 1900 he attacked the modern problems of light and air, thus combining the old and new theories of landscape painting. He received numerous awards, including a gold medal at
Charleston in 1902 and the Inness medal in 1910.
He died on January 30, 1921, of pneumonia in New York City.[3]