John B. Fairbanks: the Man Behind the Canvas

Brigham Young University BYU ScholarsArchive Theses and Dissertations 2003-08-01 John B. Fairbanks: The Man Behind the Canvas Rachel Cope Brigham Young University - Provo Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd Part of the Art and Design Commons, and the Mormon Studies Commons BYU ScholarsArchive Citation Cope, Rachel, "John B. Fairbanks: The Man Behind the Canvas" (2003). Theses and Dissertations. 4620. https://scholarsarchive.byu.edu/etd/4620 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by BYU ScholarsArchive. It has been accepted for inclusion in Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of BYU ScholarsArchive. For more information, please contact [email protected], [email protected]. JOHN BbfairbanksFAIRBANKS THE MAN BEHIND THE CANVAS by rachel cope A thesis submitted to the faculty of brigham young university in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of master of arts department of history brigham young university august 2003 BRIGHAM YOUNG university GRADUATE COMMITTEE APPROVAL of a thesis submitted by rachel cope this thesis has been read by each member of the following graduate committee and by majority vote has been found to be satisfactory 7 datee 4 Jy thomas G alexander chair 3 00001ongony S 4 7 meljdtejxax richrdrichard E bennett 3 c awyw ate 11marianmadianmannanianlann E wardle BRIGHAM YOUNG university As chair of the candidates graduate committee I1 have read the thesis of rachel cope in its final form and have found that 1 its format citations and bibliographic style are consistent and acceptable and fulfill university and department style requirements 2 its illustrative materials including figures tables and charts are in place and 3 the final manuscript is satisfactory to the graduate committee and is ready for submission to the university library X ilelael5eiyeclacl7e thomas G alexander chair graduate committee accepted for the department neil york department chair accepted for the college renata T forste associate dean college of home family and social sciences ABSTRACT JOHN B FAIRBANKS THE MAN BEHIND THE CANVAS rachel cope department of history master of arts A biographical sketch of artist john B fairbanks this thesis primarily probes fairbanks evolution as an artist from amateur to art missionary to professional artist fairbanks influenced his cultural surroundings in utah and in the church of jesus christ of latter day saints his commitment to his career and his impact on others significantly affected utah and mormon art thus it is important to understand and recognize the full portrait of john B fairbanks john B fairbanks born on 27 december 1855 developed an interest in art while still young until reaching the age of thirty four he often worked as an amateur artist eager to one day receive professional training although a difficult career path to follow he maintained his focus on art and hoped for future opportunities in this field in 1890 fairbanks learned that he along with artists john hafen and lorus pratt and later edwin evans and herman haag would be subsidized by the church of jesus christ of latter day saints to study art at the academic julian in paris france in order to prepare them to paint murals in the salt lake temple As an art missionary fairbanks developed a more complete understanding of art and embraced the process of becoming an artist upon returning to utah from paris fairbanks helped paint murals in the salt lake temple following this unique privilege he worked as a professional artist during this phase of his life he had the opportunity to teach various students most importantly his sons J leo and avard in addition fairbanks created several substantial works and helped influence the cultural environment of the church and the state of utah acknowledgementsACKNOWLEDGE MENTS I1 would like to thank my thesis chair professor thomas G alexander as well as committee members professor richard E bennett and professor marian wardle for the direction and suggestions they offered me as I1 worked on this project professors ignacio garcia susan S rugh mary S richards and W jeffrey marsh also deserve a special thank you for content and editorial suggestions as does ikechukwu nnabuife chukwunwike ikeieikemeikerne most importantly my parents victor fairbanks and elizabeth farrell cope have supported and encouraged me constantly in this endeavor my gratitude also extends to my siblings jacob erin kelly evan jessica michael elizabeth sean and kade cope finally I1 want to thank my grandparents J austin and florence fairbanks cope for encouraging me to pursue such an important topic viivil TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT iv acknowledgments vi LIST OF illustrations ix chapters I1 john B fairbanks A historiographical discussion I1 purpose of this study historiographical review primary sources contributions of this thesis content of this thesis 11 from tracing to sketching the early life of john B fairbanks 30 A link to the past birth of john B fairbanks education and art an introduction to art marriage southern states mission pursuing a career in art iliiiiHI111 leaving an impression the impact of the paris art mission on john B fairbanks artistic development 66 early utah art art background the goal to study in paris academic julian purpose of the art mission early feelings about art in paris an extended call recommencing school summer with rigolotrigoulot last months in paris conclusion viiivill IV A disposition and desire to study the artistic legacy of john B fairbanks 109log construction of early temples mural painting in america creating murals in the salt lake temple contributions to utah art death of lillie benjamin cluff expedition to south america traveling east with hafen farm in canada new york city return to paris later art conclusion APPENDIX A 151 APPENDIX B 165 APPENDIX C 172 bibliography 174 ixIX LIST OF illustrations figure I11 J leo fairbanks photograph of john B fairbanks sketching outdoors in utah valley ca 1897 x 2 john B fairbanks european castle 1877 165 3 john B fairbanks albert gabriel rigolotRigorigoulotlot meadow of trees 1892 166 4 albert gabriel rigolotRigorigoulotlot summer in the vale ofofcheuvreusecheuvreuseCheuvreuse 167 5 john B fairbanks aspen grove 1916 168 6 john B fairbanks backyard in france 1892 169 7 john B fairbanks grain stack in france circa 1892 170 89 john B fairbanks harvesting in utah valley undated 171 9 john B fairbanks fairbanks home 1933 172 10 john B fairbanks magdalena river 1901 173 11 photograph of john B fairbanks circa 1885 174 12 southern states mission certificate 1881 175 13 paris art mission certificate 1890 176 14 photograph of american artists taken at the american club in paris 1890 177 15 photograph of students at the academic julian circa 1890 178 16 photograph of fairbanks art studio in salt lake city circa 1930 179 J leo fairbanks photograph of john B fairbanks sketching outdoors in utah valley circacimma 1897 brigham young university photo archives provo utah CHAPTER I11 JOHN BbfairbanksFAIRBANKS A historiographical discussion unlike many other frontier settlements utah had a strong affinity for the fine arts led to the rocky mountains by brigham young a man who encouraged artistic creations and cultural influences the Morcormonsmormonsmons many of whom had been exposed to museums and galleries before migration westward appreciated the aesthetic 2 thus as LDS missionaries proselytized in foreign countries and throughout the united states they encouraged skilled artisans and craftsman who had converted to the church to travel westward 3 eventually experienced artists migrated to utah territory and assisted in developing a cultured society 4 other artists such as john B fairbanks 1855 1940 were bomborn and raised in the newly settled territory vern G swanson et al utah painting and sculpture layton utah gibbs smith publisher 1997 13 2manyamany2 many of the mormon pioneers had been raised in the eastern united states or in europe As a result some of them had witnessed cultural influences and various forms of aesthetic beauty such individuals found it difficult to adapt to life in the desert 3monteamonte3 monte B degraw A study of representative examples fostered by the mormon church with an analysis of the aesthetic value of their works MS thesis brigham youngyoun university 1959 2 4 examples of artists who migrated to utah are george M ottinger janquartdanquartDanquart anthon weggeland alfred lambourne william warner major and CCA christensen 2 initially temporal affairs preoccupied the saints and thus individuals sought occupations that would enable them to secure the basic necessities of food clothing and shelter 5 with time they completed homes and established businesses aware of the importance of art brigham young continually encouraged interest in this area following the improvement of physical comforts throughout the territory immigrant artists including george ottinger 1833 1917 and janquartdanquartDanquart anthon weggeland 1827 1918 painted scenery for the salt lake theater later portrait painting developed as a source of income throughout the territory and the picturesque landscapes of the rocky mountains and other scenic areas inspired many beautiful works furthermore as architects designed and constructed church and civic buildings artists were commissioned to create paintings for these structures many of the artists who arrived in utah had previously been exposed to a basic foundation in art history and technique and were acquainted with

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