American, 1803 - 1836
The most complete account of Anthony De Rose's life and career is that which he provided to William Dunlap for the History of the Rise and Progress of the Arts of Design in the United States:
[block quote:]
I was born in the city of New York, on the 17th of August 1803, and began my professional career in the winter of 1821, by setting out upon the world as a professed artist, after studying scarcely a year and a half, so eager was I to claim the distinction which I fancied belonged to an artist. I was designed for a mechanical employment, by my only surviving parent; but such was my repugnance to being forced to learn the secrets and mysteries of trade, whether I would or no, that my scruples and the melancholy it caused, finally prevailed, and I was suffered to follow my inclinations and desires, in the pursuit of art. I commenced the rudiments of drawing with a young artist in New-York; after studying six months with him I was placed under the instruction of J[ohn] R[ubens] Smith, an excellent teacher of drawing, and I think I owe much of my subsequent success to his admirable system of instruction; occasionally I drew at the [American] academy in Chambers-street under your direction, during the brief hours allowed for that purpose by the board of directors.
You may remember too, that I have been a constant attendant upon your course of lectures at our [National] academy, and undoubtedly owe much to them, as having given a proper direction to my course of study. I have copied but few pictures, preferring nature-her charms have won and claimed my entire admiration. Pleased with my first success in portrait painting, I wandered over many parts of our widely extended country in search of employment, and from a restless desire to see its beauty. From the foundation of our excellent academy (the National Academy of Design), my professional views have taken a higher aim; I have occasionally employed my pencil in historical composition, with what success you shall witness at our next annual exhibition.
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De Rose was a prolific contributor to Academy annual exhibitions from 1829 through 1833, showing almost exclusively portraits, a number of which were designated "full length" in the exhibition catalogues. However, he assayed other subjects: in 1830 he exhibited Still Life Composition, and Portrait of a Short-Horned Durham Cow was among the five portraits he showed in 1833.
Dunlap received the artist's autobiographical sketch on June 11, 1834. Soon thereafter De Rose contracted tuberculosis and apparently never completed his historical composition. He was not represented in the annual of 1834, though eight portraits by him appeared in the annual of 1835.
[block quote:]
I was born in the city of New York, on the 17th of August 1803, and began my professional career in the winter of 1821, by setting out upon the world as a professed artist, after studying scarcely a year and a half, so eager was I to claim the distinction which I fancied belonged to an artist. I was designed for a mechanical employment, by my only surviving parent; but such was my repugnance to being forced to learn the secrets and mysteries of trade, whether I would or no, that my scruples and the melancholy it caused, finally prevailed, and I was suffered to follow my inclinations and desires, in the pursuit of art. I commenced the rudiments of drawing with a young artist in New-York; after studying six months with him I was placed under the instruction of J[ohn] R[ubens] Smith, an excellent teacher of drawing, and I think I owe much of my subsequent success to his admirable system of instruction; occasionally I drew at the [American] academy in Chambers-street under your direction, during the brief hours allowed for that purpose by the board of directors.
You may remember too, that I have been a constant attendant upon your course of lectures at our [National] academy, and undoubtedly owe much to them, as having given a proper direction to my course of study. I have copied but few pictures, preferring nature-her charms have won and claimed my entire admiration. Pleased with my first success in portrait painting, I wandered over many parts of our widely extended country in search of employment, and from a restless desire to see its beauty. From the foundation of our excellent academy (the National Academy of Design), my professional views have taken a higher aim; I have occasionally employed my pencil in historical composition, with what success you shall witness at our next annual exhibition.
[end of block quote]
De Rose was a prolific contributor to Academy annual exhibitions from 1829 through 1833, showing almost exclusively portraits, a number of which were designated "full length" in the exhibition catalogues. However, he assayed other subjects: in 1830 he exhibited Still Life Composition, and Portrait of a Short-Horned Durham Cow was among the five portraits he showed in 1833.
Dunlap received the artist's autobiographical sketch on June 11, 1834. Soon thereafter De Rose contracted tuberculosis and apparently never completed his historical composition. He was not represented in the annual of 1834, though eight portraits by him appeared in the annual of 1835.
