Winthrop Chandler was an American artist known for his portraits, mainly of family members and neighbors, and a few landscapes.
Background
Chandler was born in Woodstock, Connecticut. He was the son of William Chandler, a farmer, and Jemima Bradbury Chandler of Woodstock, Connecticut. After his father"s death in 1754, Chandler pursued a career as a portrait and ornamental painter.
Education
While there is no evidence for his presence in Boston, there is a source which claims that the artist studied the art of portrait painting in Boston.
Career
He also worked as an ornamental artist. In 1772, Chandler married Mary Gleason. He does not appear to have participated in the Revolutionary War.
Over time he pursued a variety of visual arts, including gilding, carving and illustrating, as well as portraiture, landscape and house painting.
This variety of skills points to a possible training as an artisan-painter. Despite a modest family inheritance, Chandler soon began to experience financial difficulties that would continue throughout his life.
In 1785 Chandler moved to Worcester, Massachusetts, where he remained for five years. He likely made this move to look for new patrons as he was constantly experiencing financial difficulties.
Here he also worked as a house painter.
Chandler returned to Chandler Hill where he died on 29 July 1790. Chandler was so destitute that his estate was left to the selectmen of Thompson to pay for his medical and funeral expenses.