John Rollin Tilton (New London, New Hampshire, USA, 8 June 1828 - 28 March 1888)[1] was an American painter, mainly of vedute of picturesque urban scenes.

John Rollin Tilton
J.R. Tilton's grave at the Cimitero acattolico, Rome
Born
John Sargeant Rollin Tilton

8 June 1828
New London, New Hampshire
Died28 March 1888
Rome, Italy
Resting placeCimitero Acattolico, Rome
NationalityAmerican
EducationFlorence, Rome
Known forPainter and illustrator
MovementVedutisti
SpouseCaroline Town Stebbins (writer)

Biography

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The Grand Canal, Venice, illustration in the book, American Art and American Art Collections: Essays on Artistic Subjects, 1889

He was initially self-taught, but then trained in Florence, and later in Rome, where he lived for many years initially making a living painting vedute and reproductions of masters. He painted a Rome from the Aventine, the Lagoon of Venice, The Egitto, and the Lago di Averno. The American statesman Hamilton Fish bought his Vallata Chamounix, and the American businessman W. B. Astor, his Lago di Thun; Louise, lady Ashburton, Dendur in Egypt and Paestum; the Boston mayor Martin Brimmer, his Lago di Como and Venice, and Count Palfy, his Vedute of Orvieto. De Gubernatis noted that "those who found Neapolitan vedute painters, warm and scintillating, would find Tilton cold and calm." He painted many watercolors.[2]

Rollin Tilton and his wife, the writer and translator Caroline Town Stebbins,[3] gathered a following among émigrés and visitors from the English speaking world.[4] Among them were John Ruskin and Henry James.[5]

References

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  1. ^ American paintings in the Brooklyn Museum: artists born by 1876, Volume 2, by Teresa A. Carbone, Barbara Dayer Gallati - 2006.
  2. ^ Dizionario degli Artisti Italiani Viventi: pittori, scultori, e Architetti., by Angelo de Gubernatis. Tipe dei Successori Le Monnier, 1889, page 510-511.
  3. ^ Morocco: its People and Places and Holland and its People (G. P. Putnam's Sons, 1880), both written by Edmondo de Amicis, translated by Caroline Tilton.
  4. ^ The Atlantic Monthly, Volume 47, 1881, page 290.
  5. ^ Henry James Letters: 1875-1883, Page 162