Matthew Harris Jouett was an American portrait painter. He became one of the most highly esteemed portrait painters in the United States, honored with a major centenary exhibition at the Speed Museum in his home state.
Background
Matthew Harris was born on April 22, 1787 near Harrodsburg, Mercer County, Kentucky, United States, the second son of John and Sallie (Robards) Jouett.
As a young boy, "before he could count one hundred or repeat the Lord's Prayer", Matthew drew likenesses which astonished his family. Art, however, was not thought of as a possible profession at that time. Captain Jouett, a practical farmer, one day called together his several sons and announced that he would try to make one of them a gentleman. Matthew was chosen for this honor.
Education
In 1804 Jouett was entered at Transylvania University, from which he was graduated four years later with honors. In accordance with his parents' wishes he then studied law with Judge George M. Bibb of the Kentucky appellate court.
Career
Jouett began to practice law when the War of 1812 stirred patriotic fervor in his state. Enlisting in the 3rd Mounted Regiment of Kentucky Volunteers he was presently appointed by President Madison first lieutenant and paymaster of the 28th United States Infantry. On July 13, 1814, he became captain, resigning January 20, 1815.
On his return from the army Jouett decided not to follow the law but to become a portrait painter, and he established himself at Lexington. This choice of occupation disgusted his father who said: "I sent Matthew to college to make a gentleman of him and he has turned out to be nothing but a sign painter". Jouett's profession was not a bad business venture, however, since he began at once to paint on an average three portraits a week at twenty-five dollars each, a good income for the town and the time.
In 1816 Jouett set out on horseback for the Atlantic coast, intending to study in Europe, but his journey extended only to Boston, where from July to October he studied with Gilbert Stuart. He made a favorable impression on the veteran artist, who called him familiarly "Kentucky" and advised against his going abroad. Jouett accordingly returned to Lexington where, calling himself a pupil of Stuart, he doubled his prices. When work was slack in Kentucky he painted at New Orleans, Natchez, and other Southern cities.
As he reached his fortieth birthday he seemed to have many years of creative activity before him, but he succumbed a few months later to an illness contracted on a painting trip. While his portraits have long been treasured in Southern homes, he was not nationally known until, in 1892, C. H. Hart (post) "discovered" Jouett's likenesses of Gen Charles Scott and John Grimes.
Achievements
Matthew Harris Jouett was noted painter, who executed with graceful, facile technique at least 334 portraits. The most celebrated of these, though not artistically the most successful, is the likeness of Lafayette now at the capitol, Frankfort. He painted Henry Clay at least three times and left records of nearly all the other celebrities of the region. His portraits of children were particularly pleasing. His work is more collectible today than it was during his lifetime, and as such catches higher prices.
Personality
Matthew Harris was tall and handsome, gifted in music, and well grounded in literature. He was also deeply religious, a good husband and father
Quotes from others about the person
Contemporary artists held his work in high esteem; John Neagle once traveled to Lexington thinking to settle there but was surprised to find in Jouett "a good and well instructed artist" with whom he could not hope to compete.
Connections
Jouett married in 1812 Margaret Henderson Allen, daughter of William Allen of Fayette County. They had eight children.
