William Sidney Mount

November 26, 1807 (age 60)

Long Island, New York, United States of America

He was a contemporary of the Hudson River School. He trained at the National Academy of Design in New York City, and in 1832 was made a full Academician. He died in Setauket on November 19, 1868. Although he started as a history painter, Mount moved to depicting scenes from everyday life. Two of his more famous paintings are Eel Spearing at Setauket (1845, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown) and Bargaining for a Horse (1835, New-York Historical Society, New York City). In addition to his painting, William Sidney Mount was a respected player and composer of the fiddle. He patented his own type of fiddle, the Cradle of Harmony, which had a curved hollow back that produced a sound louder than a standard violin. His home and studio, the William Sidney Mount House, is a National Historic Landmark. One of the local elementary schools in The Three Village Central School District is named in his honor, as is Personal 174 elementary school in Rego Park, Queens. A residential building is named after him on the Stony Brook University campus.

William Sidney Mount

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painter

Background

Mount, William Sidney was born on November 26, 1807 in Setauket, Long Island, New York, United States. Son of Thomas Shepard and Julia (Hawkins) M. Member National Academy of Design, 1832.

Career

He was a contemporary of the Hudson River School. He trained at the National Academy of Design in New York City, and in 1832 was made a full Academician. He died in Setauket on November 19, 1868.

Although he started as a history painter, Mount moved to depicting scenes from everyday life.

Two of his more famous paintings are Eel Spearing at Setauket (1845, New York State Historical Association, Cooperstown) and Bargaining for a Horse (1835, New-York Historical Society, New York City). In addition to his painting, William Sidney Mount was a respected player and composer of the fiddle.

He patented his own type of fiddle, the Cradle of Harmony, which had a curved hollow back that produced a sound louder than a standard violin. His home and studio, the William Sidney Mount House, is a National Historic Landmark.

One of the local elementary schools in The Three Village Central School District is named in his honor, as is Personal 174 elementary school in Rego Park, Queens.

A residential building is named after him on the Stony Brook University campus.

Achievements

William Sidney Mount has been listed as a notable painter by Marquis Who's Who.

Membership

Member National Academy of Design, 1832.

Connections

Father:: Thomas Shepard National Academy of Design
Mother:: Julia (Hawkins) M. Member National Academy of Design

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