Martin Johnson Heade – Artwork & Bio of the American Painter

Martin Johnson Heade was an American painter born on 11 August 1819 in Lumberville, Pennsylvania. Heade received his first art instructions under Edward Hicks and his cousin Thomas Hicks. At age twenty, Heade began painting professionally and exhibited at the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts and the National Academy of Design.

After Heade took a second trip to Europe, he became a traveling artist, working in various cities until he settled in New York in 1859. Around this period, Heade shifted his focus to landscape painting and traveled to South America in the 1860s, taking several subjects and influences for his work. Subsequently, Heade traveled to several parts of the Caribbean, painting.

Paintings of still lifes, flowers, and birds categorized Heade’s later works. He continued painting and winning acclaim for his works, receiving the honor of Knight of the Order of the Rose from the Emperor of Brazil. Heade’s extensive work remains a collector item for art dealers and enthusiasts worldwide. He died in Florida on 4 September 1904.

What was Martin Johnson Heade Known For?

Martin Johnson Heade was known for painting landscapes, still lifes, birds, and floral subjects. Heade’s artworks showcased the artist’s skill for accurate and colorful depictions and keen attention to atmospheric and luminous effects. His bird paintings usually portray the birds in a majestic manner set against dark backgrounds.

Who was Martin Johnson Heade Influenced By?

Martin Johnson Heade was influenced by Edward Hicks, Benjamin Champney, and John Frederick Kensett. Hicks, a portrait painter, influenced Heade’s mastery of accurate depictions, while Champney and Kensett influenced his latter choice of subject matter – landscapes.

What Art Movement was Martin Johnson Heade Associated With?

Martin Johnson Heade was associated with the Hudson River School art movement.

Martin Johnson Heade Artwork

Below are some of the artworks of Martin Johnson Heade

Approaching Thunder Storm

 

 

Blue Morpho Butterfly

 

 

Cattleya Orchid and Three Hummingbirds

 

 

Florida River Scene: Early Evening, After Sunset

 

 

Giant Magnolias on a Blue Velvet Cloth

 

 

Haystacks on the Newburyport Marshes

 

 

Hummingbird and Apple Blossoms

 

 

Magnolia Grandiflora

 

 

Magnolias on Gold Velvet Cloth

 

 

Passion Flowers with Hummingbirds

 

 

Sailing by Moonlight

 

 

Sailing off the Coast

 

 

Sunlight and Shadow: The Newbury Marshes

 

 

Sunset Over the Marshes

 

 

The Great Florida Marsh

 

 

The Marshes at Rhode Island

 

 

Thunderstorm on Narragansett Bay

 

 

Twilight on the St. Johns River

All Martin Johnson Heade Artwork on Artchive

Artwork Name Year Medium
Approaching Thunderstorm 1859 Oil On Canvas
Thunder Storm On Narragansett Bay 1868 Oil On Canvas
Approaching Storm, Beach Near Newport c. 1866-67 Oil On Canvas
A Magnolia On Red Velvet c. 1885-95 Oil On Canvas
View From Fern-tree Walk, Jamaica c. 1870 Oil On Canvas
Brazilian Forest 1864 Oil On Canvas
Newburyport Meadows c. 1872-78 Oil on Canvas
Blue Morpho Butterfly 1865 Oil on Canvas
Orchids and Hummingbird c. 1875-83 Oil on Canvas
Lake George 1862 Oil on Canvas
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