Background
Powell, Lucien Whiting was born on December 13, 1846 in Levinworth Manor, Virginia, United States. Son of John Levin and Maria Louise (Grady) Powell.
Powell, Lucien Whiting was born on December 13, 1846 in Levinworth Manor, Virginia, United States. Son of John Levin and Maria Louise (Grady) Powell.
Powell Served with the Confederate Army, 1863-1865 and studied with Thomas Moran at the Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. He travelled to Europe in 1876 and studied with Fitz at the London School of Art, and studied closely the works of Joseph Mallord William Turner. He also studied Thomas Cole"s works.
Powell, himself, could be considered a native of Airmont, having been born a few miles southeast, near Upperville, Virginia. Powell married Nan Fitzhugh in 1880 and lived in Washington, District of Columbia from 1885 until his death in 1930 of double pneumonia. He maintained a studio residence at 1923 G Street Northeast until his death.
Landscapes dominated the career of Lucien Powell.
His paintings were widely collected and exhibited at local and national art exhibitions as well as being lauded in the regional press Early exhibitions of Powell"s works included the Louisville Industrial Exhibition in the 1870s.
Mr. Powell was the first artist to hold an exhibition on an ocean liner in 1891.
He accompanied a geological survey party to the Grand Canyon of the Yellowstone in 1901 and visited the Holy Land, Egypt, and Italy in 1910. Powell was patronized by Senator and Mistress
John B. Henderson, who established a studio for him in their "Castle." Mistress Henderson grew very fond of Mr.
Powell"s artistic talent and came to own over seventy of his paintings.
A few years after her death, Adam Weschler & Son held her estate auction. This auction, held in 1935, is believed to be the largest known sale of Mr. Powell"s works. J. Edgar Hoover also owned more than a dozen of Powell"s works.
Some of Lucien Powell"s favorite scenes to paint were: Venice, Rock Creek Park in Washington District of Columbia, Grand Canyon, scenes from the Holy Land and Egypt and scenes around Northern Virginia.
Powell enjoyed popularity in the Washington, District of Columbia, are community and was a member of several local art organizations including the Landscape Club, the Society of Washington Artists, and the Washington Watercolor Club.
Married Nan Fitzhugh, October 20, 1880. Children: Elaine Fitzhugh (Mistress Jesse L. Heiskell), John Levin (deceased), Mabel Lee (Mistress Francis A. Millott), Maria Louise (deceased), Lucien Fitzhugh.