Background
Thomas Seir Cummings was born on August 26, 1804 at Bath, England, the only child of Charles and Rebecca Cummings, who emigrated in his infancy and settled at New York.
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Thomas Seir Cummings was born on August 26, 1804 at Bath, England, the only child of Charles and Rebecca Cummings, who emigrated in his infancy and settled at New York.
Thomas had in boyhood drawing lessons from Augustus Earle, an English itinerant painter, and later from John Rubens Smith.
In 1821 he was received as pupil by Henry Inman from whom he learned to make good miniatures. After three years master and pupil formed a partnership which lasted three years more.
His part in founding, in 1825, the National Academy of Design was notable. He was elected to its council and for forty years he served as its treasurer.
He for several years conducted in New York a private school of design. This led to a professorship in the University of the City of New York.
In January 1844, he was an organizer of the New York Sketching Club, which he called “one of the most agreeable and instructive little clubs that ever took share in art matters in the city. ”
Throughout his young manhood Cummings was prominent in military affairs, rising in the 2nd Regiment of New York Light Infantry from private to colonel, and in 1838 to brigadiergeneral, his command including several of the “crack” companies of the city.
One of his friends was S. F. B. Morse, painter and inventor of the telegraph; he was among the invited guests at the first private demonstration of the invention.
In 1851 a copy which Cummings had executed of Gilbert Stuart’s “Martha Washington” was presented to Queen Victoria and gracefully acknowledged by Lord Palmerston.
On Feburary 23, 1863, the Academy resolved to build on land which it had acquired in Twenty-third St. Cummings was chairman of the building committee which, at the then great cost of $250, 000, successfully completed the ornate structure that was dedicated in 1865 and which was long a New York landmark.
Soon after this crowning achievement he retired from professional activities, making his permanent home at Mansfield, Conn. , and spending several months each winter in New York with his children.
After his wife’s death in 1889 he removed to Hackensack, New Jersey, where he died.
In 1827 Cummings was regarded as “the best instructed miniature painter then in the United States. ” Cummings was represented at the National Academy’s centennial exhibition in Washington and New York, by his portrait of Daniel Seymour and a miniature portrait of the artist Alfred l. Agate. Among his early engraved works, still prized by collectors, are “The Bracelet, ” “The Bride, ” and “The Exchange of Queens. ”
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He was of agreeable personality, familiar with business methods and keenly interested in the Academy’s classes for art students.
He married in 1822 Jane Cook, like himself born in England.
