George Whiting Flagg was an American genre painter, and was from a family of prominent artists.
Background
George W. Flagg was born on June 26, 1816, in New Haven, Connecticut, the son of Henry Collins Flagg, II and Martha Whiting. He traced his descent from Thomas Flagg, who emigrated to Massachusetts in 1637. His father, a half-brother of Washington Allston, was a native of South Carolina, but long a resident of New Haven where he practised law and took a prominent part in civic affairs.
In 1824 the family moved to Charleston, South Carolina, for a few years.
Education
Flagg began his study of art in the South and came to be known as a child prodigy. Following his instruction there, he spent eighteen months with his uncle, Washington Allston, and Osgood Bowman in Boston.
Then Luman Reed, a wealthy patron of artists, became interested in his work and in 1834 sent him to Europe, where he studied in London, Paris, and Italy.
Career
On his return Flagg was for a time with his uncle, but finally settled in New York City, where he was elected an honorary member of the National Academy of Design in 1842 and an academician in 1851.
Flagg was again in London in 1861, but returned to New York some five years later. After 1867 he exhibited very little, and in 1879 retired to Nantucket.
To some extent, Flagg’s work was purely ideal and done without the use of a model. His early works, previous to study abroad, include: "A Young Greek, " "Jacob and Rachel at the Well, " and "Murder of the Princes in the Tower. "
His later paintings include: "Laying of the Atlantic Cable, " "Landing of the Pilgrims, " "Washington Receiving his Mother’s Blessing, " frequently engraved, "The Good Samaritan, " "Haidee, " "The Match Girl, " "The Scarlet Letter, " "Columbus and the Egg, " and a portrait of Washington Allston.
The first four of these were Flagg’s principal historical works, painted in New Haven for the late James Brewster. "Haidee" depicts a single figure, revealing in its treatment the influence upon Flagg of the Italian masters. The "Mouse Boy" is a homely portrayal of a little street vendor displaying for chance pennies some white mice carried in a box strapped to his neck. Flagg visualized him in his native atmosphere, against Italian skies, with the carefree indolence of a Genoese urchin.
Several of Flagg’s paintings are in the Luman Reed collection at the New York Historical Society. Among them are "The Woodchopper’s Boy, " "The Match Girl, " "Lady and Parrot, " and "The Nun. "
Some of his best work is in the South, including portraits of the "Felix" (1850); "Poet’s Captive" (1877); "Holy Thoughts"; "Grandfather’s Pet"; and "Hester Prynne in Prison. "
Among his portraits are those of Bishop Littlejohn (1880), Chief-Justice Church of New York (1884), Frederick Tappan 0896), John Jay, Reverdy Johnson, Henry Stanbery, Judge Pcckham, and several of Commodore Vanderbilt.
George Whiting Flagg died on January 5, 1897, in Nantucket, Massachusetts.
Achievements
Membership
George W. Flagg was elected an honorary member of the National Academy of Design in 1842.
Personality
His personality, keen interest in his profession, and conversational gifts made him a welcome figure in social circles, and George Flagg counted many friends among noted artists and writers of his day.
Connections
On February 14, 1849, George W. Flagg married Louisa Henriques of New Haven, Connecticut, who bore him four children.