One of the earliest and most prolific artist-naturalists to work in America, John Abbot was born in London in 1751, the son of an attorney. Abbot wrote in his manuscript, Notes on My Life, that he acquired "an early taste for drawing, which might be much increased by my father having a large & valuable collection of prints, of some ... MORE

Artist, teacher, activist, critic, and author Benny Andrews ascended from the humblest of Southern beginnings to the loftiest stages of American art. A native of rural Georgia, Andrews was one of ten children born to sharecropper parents. Though his proper schooling was necessarily sporadic, Andrews and his siblings were encouraged in their ... MORE

Born in Lambeth, England, George Henry Andrews was educated as an engineer. The source of his artistic training is unknown, but by 1840 he was an active book illustrator and by 1847 was listed as a member of the art staff of the Illustrated London News. It was through his work on this newspaper—as well as other periodicals such as The ... MORE

A native of Germany, Edward Everard Arnold began his artistic career as a jack-of-all-trades. By 1850, he had settled in New Orleans, and city directories from that time until his death in 1866 variously list him as a lithographer, sign painter, and fancy painter. However, it is for his ship portraits, scenes of naval engagements, and other ... MORE

The First South Carolina Hospital at Rikersville (also known as Rickersville) was established on the grounds of an industrial village developed by David Riker, located just a few miles outside of Charleston. In addition to a sawmill, wheat mill, blacksmiths’ shops, and other industrial buildings, the property also included a large ... MORE

"My birds, my beloved birds of America, fill all my time and nearly all my thoughts!" exclaimed John James Audubon, creator of The Birds of America (1827-1838), a landmark in ornithology and one of the most sought-after documents in American art. Acclaimed as one of the greatest natural artists of all time, Audubon devoted ... MORE