Edmund Ashe

Background

Edmund Marion Ashe was born in 1867 in New York City and grew up on Staten Island, New York. He developed an early interest in drawing and painting and pursued formal artistic training before beginning a career as an illustrator.

Education

Ashe studied at the Metropolitan Art School and at the Art Students League of New York, where he trained under John Ward Stimson and Charles Vanderhoof.

Career

Ashe began his professional career as an illustrator for major American periodicals, including Collier's, Harper's Magazine, and Scribner's Magazine. He illustrated John Kendrick Bangs's In Camp with a Tin Soldier (1892) and contributed artwork for several books by Richard Harding Davis, including Her First Appearance (1901), Ransom's Folly (1902), and The Bar Sinister (1903).

From 1896 to 1909, Ashe served as a White House artist-correspondent for Leslie's Weekly, the New-York Tribune, and the New York World during the administrations of Presidents William McKinley and Theodore Roosevelt. He maintained a personal friendship with President Roosevelt.

While working as an illustrator and correspondent, Ashe also taught at the Art Students League of New York and at William Merritt Chase's New York School of Art.

In 1905, he moved to Norwalk, Connecticut, near the Westport border. He participated in the artistic community of the area and attended gatherings of the Westport Artists through his friendships with artists such as George Hand Wright. In 1908, he became one of the founding members of the Silvermine Art Colony and remained active there until 1921, except for 1916. His painting Spirit of the Pool was exhibited at the 1913 Armory Show in New York.

In 1920, Ashe joined Carnegie Institute of Technology in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, as a teacher of illustration. He later became head of the Department of Painting and Design and remained at the institution until his retirement in 1939.

During his later career, he produced paintings depicting industrial workers, steel mills, and scenes of American rural life. He continued exhibiting his work in New York and other venues throughout the 1920s and 1930s.

Achievements

• Ashe served as White House artist-correspondent for Leslie's Weekly, the New-York Tribune, and the New York World between 1896 and 1909. His painting Spirit of the Pool was selected for exhibition at the landmark 1913 Armory Show in New York. During his academic career at Carnegie Institute of Technology, he advanced to become head of the Department of Painting and Design. He was also noted for his paintings of industrial subjects, particularly scenes depicting steelworkers and the American steel industry.

Works

More photos

• painting

  • Boat In From Baltimore

  • Pot Of Tea And Ice Cream

Membership

Ashe was active in several professional art organizations. He was among the earliest members of the Society of Illustrators after joining the organization in 1901 and also belonged to the New York Water Color Club and the Society of Independent Artists. In 1908, he became one of the founding members of the Silvermine Art Colony in Connecticut, where he remained active until 1921.

Connections

In 1893, Ashe married Estelle Egbert in West New Brighton, New York. The couple had two children, Dorothy Ashe and Edmund Ashe Jr. Their son followed his father's artistic path and worked as an illustrator for newspapers.

Spouse:

Estelle Egbert

Daughter:

Dorothy Ashe

Son:

Edmund Ashe Jr.

colleague:

George Hand Wright

Friend:

Theodore Roosevelt