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for John Francis Murphy
1853 - 1916
J. Francis Murphy left school at age twelve to work for a local newspaper. Moving with his family to Chicago in 1868, he became affiliated with the Chicago Academy of Design and found work painting theatre scenery. During this period, he met J. Carroll Beckwith, with whom he sketched along the shores of the Chicago River. Although Murphy was quite poor, he was able to make a short sketching trip to the Adirondacks in 1874 where he met Winslow Homer. The following year he moved to New York, befriending Bruce Crane, Emil Carlsen, and Kenyon Cox. Gradually he became known as a painter of Corot-derived landscapes; he also worked at illustration.
Murphy married artist Adah Clifford Smith in 1883. Two years later he won the Academy's 2nd Hallgarten Prize. After six months in Europe in 1886, he and his wife built a studio in Arkville New York, where they taught in times of frequent financial need. Murphy supplemented his income with work for the Prang Greeting Card Company in the 1880s and by producing many small saleable watercolors in the 1890s. He served one year on the NAD Council (1893-4) at this time.
Soon after his election to the Society of American Artists in 1901, his paintings became increasingly well received. He won several prizes, including the 1910 Inness Gold Medal at the Academy. In 1914 Murphy suffered a severe attack of pneumonia which eventually led to his death. Between 1921 and 1932, a J. Francis Murphy Memorial Prize was given at Academy Annuals for the best landscape by an artist under the age of 41.
In 1907, Wiles's painting of Murphy was substituted for his original diploma portrait by Charles M. Dewey.
Murphy married artist Adah Clifford Smith in 1883. Two years later he won the Academy's 2nd Hallgarten Prize. After six months in Europe in 1886, he and his wife built a studio in Arkville New York, where they taught in times of frequent financial need. Murphy supplemented his income with work for the Prang Greeting Card Company in the 1880s and by producing many small saleable watercolors in the 1890s. He served one year on the NAD Council (1893-4) at this time.
Soon after his election to the Society of American Artists in 1901, his paintings became increasingly well received. He won several prizes, including the 1910 Inness Gold Medal at the Academy. In 1914 Murphy suffered a severe attack of pneumonia which eventually led to his death. Between 1921 and 1932, a J. Francis Murphy Memorial Prize was given at Academy Annuals for the best landscape by an artist under the age of 41.
In 1907, Wiles's painting of Murphy was substituted for his original diploma portrait by Charles M. Dewey.
