Champney, James Wells, 1843-1903

Hide Profile

James Wells Champney (July 16, 1843 – May 1, 1903) was an American genre artist and illustrator noted for his portraits, oriental scenes and American landscapes.

Champney was born in Boston, the son of Benjamin and Sarah Wells Champney. His mother died when he was quite young and he was raised by relatives. At the age of 16 years he began his career as an apprentice wood engraver and earned a living making wood engravings. At the outbreak of Civil War he left the apprenticeship and enlisted in the 45th Massachusetts Volunteers. He was at Gettysburg and during his service he contracted malaria and was discharged. After the war he taught drawing for a short period and in 1866 he travelled to Europe where he studied under the genre painter, Edouard Frère in Ecouen. He later studied with Van Lerius at the Royal Academy in Antwerp. He returned to America in 1870 and opened an Academy, but was soon drawn back to Europe, settling in Rome for a time and visiting Paris.

In 1873 he eloped with Elizabeth Williams, his former student of drawing, to save her from an arranged marriage. For three years following their marriage the couple travelled through Europe and were living in France when their first child was born. The family eventually settled in Deerfield, Massachusetts.

In 1880 the couple secured a contract to illustrate a series of articles for Century Magazine. For this endeavour the pair embarked on travel to North Africa, Spain and Portugal, visiting localities such as Tangier and Tétouan in Morocco, that had not been covered by any of the illustrated magazines at that time. In Europe they encountered the works of the Spanish realist, Mariano Fortuny and the French painter, Henri Regnault, and spent much of their time following in the artists' footsteps across Spain, France and Morocco. Between 1880 and 1890, the Champneys made several trips to Europe, and in 1890 Champney opened a studio in Paris. From around 1885 Champney focussed almost exclusively on pastels. He exhibited pastel works at the Columbian Exhibition in Chicago (1893, 1898). In 1882 he was elected into the National Academy of Design as an Associate member. He was also a member of the Salmagundi Art Club.

Champney's paintings include landscape and genre subjects as well as Orientalist scenes. After his travels in Europe, he concentrated almost exclusively on pastels and became known for his portraits, especially those of young girls. Among the many portraits he painted are those of William Winter, Henry M. Stanley, and Mary Mannering as "Daphne." He also lectured on photography and was an advocate of the photograph's pictorial potential. In addition, he carried out decorations for the Hotel Manhatten in 1898. He often signed his work as "Champs" to distinguish himself from other artists with the same family name.
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Centennial Exhibition (1876 : Philadelphia, Pa.) corporateBody
relativeOf Champney, Benjamin, 1817-1907 person
spouseOf Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams), 1850-1922 person
correspondedWith Champney, Elizabeth W. (Elizabeth Williams), 1850-1922 person
relativeOf Champney, George Mather, 1812-1882 person
associatedWith Duveen, Albert, person
associatedWith Kingsley, Elbridge, 1842-1918. person
correspondedWith Longfellow, Henry Wadsworth, 1807-1882 person
associatedWith Millet, Francis Davis, 1846-1912. person
memberOf National Academy of Design (U.S.) corporateBody
memberOf Salmagundi Club corporateBody
employeeOf Scribner's monthly. corporateBody
memberOf Society of Amateur Photographers of New York corporateBody
correspondedWith Winter, William, 1836-1917 person
associatedWith Young, Robert, 1927-2008, person
associatedWith Zalesch, Saul E. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Deerfield MA US
Paris A8 FR
Boston MA US
New York City NY US
Deerfield MA US
Subject
Art, Modern
Figure drawing
Genre painters
Illustrators
Painters
Painting, American
Photographers
Photographers
Portrait drawing
Occupation
Painters, American
Photographers
Activity

Person

Birth 1843-07-16

Death 1903-05-01

Male

Americans

English

Information

Permalink: http://n2t.net/ark:/99166/w60v8n7g

Ark ID: w60v8n7g

SNAC ID: 65118007