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The Life and Legacy of George William Whitaker

Born in Fall River, United States, George William Whitaker was a prominent landscape painter who became known as the "Dean of Providence painters" or the "Dean of Rhode Island Artists." After being raised by his maternal grandparents in Providence, he studied drawing in public schools and later lived at the North American Phalanx in Red Bank, New Jersey, where he studied under Professor Guilledeau. Before dedicating himself fully to painting, Whitaker worked as an engraver in New York City until the age of 31.

His artistic journey included studying with George Inness and Alexander Helwig Wyant, as well as studying with László Paál in Paris. He was heavily influenced by Jean-François Millet and the Barbizon school. Whitaker was a central figure in the Providence art community, playing a prominent role in the founding of the Rhode Island School of Design, where he served as the first instructor of oil painting. He was also instrumental in founding the Providence Art Club and the Providence Water Color Club.

Artistic Style and Subject Matter

Whitaker's canvases often depicted meadowlands near forests, featuring roadways winding over hills and skies filled with white fleecy cumulus clouds. His compositions frequently included a twisted old oak tree in the middle distance and might feature a shepherd with a flock of sheep. He was a devotee of the Barbizon School, elevating natural scenes to be the subject of his artwork through an overall tone of colored atmosphere or mist.

His works are held in several permanent collections, including: