Artist. Although his career was short-lived, he is best remembered for his detailed paintings that depicted contemporary interior scenes that later became very popular as reproduced prints. The oldest son of a prominent Baltimore, Maryland family, he developed his artistic talents at a youth by drawing caricatures of his teachers. He decided to become a doctor and attended medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore but left after a year to pursue his passion as an artist. In 1845 he exhibited and sold his first painting, "Two Figures at a Stove," at the National Academy of Design annual exhibition in New York City, New York. Shortly afterwards, he travelled to Germany and enrolled for a year at the Arts Academy (Kunstakademie) in the city of Dusseldorf, remaining in Dusseldorf for an additional five years to study under artist Karl Ferdinand Sohn, and sending his works back to the US for exhibition at the American Art-Union. In 1851 the American Art-Union shut down, leaving him with no avenue to exhibit his works. He then left Dusseldorf and spent time in Paris, France and London, England. Among his notable works include "The Card Players" (1846), "Politics at an Oyster House" (1848), "War News from Mexico" (1848), "Old '76 and Young '48" (1849), The Sailor's Wedding" (1852), and "Portrait of a Young Woman" (1853). He died of a morphine overdose at the age of 30. A number of his paintings are on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. His son, Richard Caton Woodville, Jr., who was born after his death, would become a well-established English artist in his own right.
Artist. Although his career was short-lived, he is best remembered for his detailed paintings that depicted contemporary interior scenes that later became very popular as reproduced prints. The oldest son of a prominent Baltimore, Maryland family, he developed his artistic talents at a youth by drawing caricatures of his teachers. He decided to become a doctor and attended medical school at the University of Maryland in Baltimore but left after a year to pursue his passion as an artist. In 1845 he exhibited and sold his first painting, "Two Figures at a Stove," at the National Academy of Design annual exhibition in New York City, New York. Shortly afterwards, he travelled to Germany and enrolled for a year at the Arts Academy (Kunstakademie) in the city of Dusseldorf, remaining in Dusseldorf for an additional five years to study under artist Karl Ferdinand Sohn, and sending his works back to the US for exhibition at the American Art-Union. In 1851 the American Art-Union shut down, leaving him with no avenue to exhibit his works. He then left Dusseldorf and spent time in Paris, France and London, England. Among his notable works include "The Card Players" (1846), "Politics at an Oyster House" (1848), "War News from Mexico" (1848), "Old '76 and Young '48" (1849), The Sailor's Wedding" (1852), and "Portrait of a Young Woman" (1853). He died of a morphine overdose at the age of 30. A number of his paintings are on display at the Walters Art Museum in Baltimore. His son, Richard Caton Woodville, Jr., who was born after his death, would become a well-established English artist in his own right.
Bio by: William Bjornstad
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