Theodore Clement Steele

Artist: T. C. Steele
Birth: September 11th, 1847
Birth City: Gosport, Indiana
Birth County: Owen
Death: July 24th, 1926
Burial: T. C. Steele State Historic Site, Belmont Indiana, Brown County
Married: Elizabeth (Libbie) Lakin (1870) (Deceased 1899)
Children: Rembrandt Steele (1870), Margaret Steele (1872), Shirley Steele (1879)
2nd Marriage: Selma; Laura Neubacher (August 9th, 1907)
2nd Marriage: Children: None

Artist Summary

Formal Training: Ashbury College Greencastle, IN, Chicago, Cincinnati, Academy of Fine Arts Munich, Germany under Gyula Benczur and Ludwig Lofftz

Subject Matter: Portraits, Landscapes
Media: Oil
Art Association: Society of Western Artists, Boston Art Club, National Academy of Design
Art Awards: Silver medal for The Boatman in (1884 Royal Academy Exhibition.
Art Exhibitions: Royal Academy Exhibition (1885), Society of American Artists at the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York (1886), Worlds Columbia Exposition (1893), The Five Hoosier Painters Exhibition in Chicago (1893), Universal Exposition Paris (1900), National Academy of Design's Eighteenth Exhibition(1904), Louisiana Purchase Exhibition (1904), Pennsylvania Academy of Arts 101st Annual Exhibition (1906), International Exhibit of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires (1910), Panama-Pacific International Exposition in San Francisco (1915)

Biography of Theodore Clement Steele

The Formative Years of T. C. Steele

T. C. Steele

Theodore Clement Steele was born in Owen County, Indiana, outside the small town of Gosport. When Steele was five years old, his father moved the family to Waveland, Indiana. To provide support, his father rented a saddle shop to make saddles. Theodore became interested in art as a young boy and attended the Waveland Collegiate Institute, where he began his art training. He was such a talented student that he was giving drawing lessons to fellow students by the age of thirteen. When Steele was sixteen, he went to art training at the Asbury College in Greencastle, Indiana. Throughout his career, Steele would return to Depauw to painting portraits of faculty, donors, and trustees. He also briefly studied in Chicago and Cincinnati but returned to Indiana to use his skill as a portrait painter.

T. C. Steele Begins a Career and Family 

After marrying Mary Elizabeth Larkin in 1870, the Steeles moved to Battle Creek, Michigan. They had their first child Rembrandt in 1870, in 1872 their daughter Margaret (Daisy) was born. After Daisy was born, the Steeles moved back to Indianapolis in 1873, where Steele supported his family painting commissioned portraits and signs. Their third child, a son, was born in 1879, they named him Shirley. T. C Steel became acquainted with the well-known Indianapolis art patron Herman Lieber who owned an art and framing store in Indianapolis. Lieber, along with the Fletcher family, secured funding for his trip to Europe.

T. C Steele the Munich Period (1880 to 1885)

The Boatman

In July of 1880, Steele and his family sailed to Europe on the S.S. Belgenland along with artists John Ottis Adams, Samuel Richards, and August Metzner to begin his training. Steele committed to repaying thirteen patrons who pledged money to support his training by providing them with future paintings. In addition to his formal studies at the Royal Academy in Munich, Germany, T. C. Steele spent explored the countryside honing his skills and receiving formal art instruction from artist Gyula BencZur and Ludwig Loffz at the academy. One of Steele's most beautiful early works was painted for student exhibition at the Academy The Boatman was painted in 1884 and won a silver medal. Steele was able to secure additional funding to stay in Europe for an additional two years for training.

T. C Steele Mid Career In Indianapolis (1886 to 1906)

After five years in Europe, Steele returned to Indianapolis in 1885 with his family and moved into a rented house known as Tinker Mansion. He supported his family by maintaining a portrait studio in downtown Indianapolis, displaying his work and time teaching and painting portraits for wealthy families in Indianapolis and around the state.  The list of portraits he painted numerous and included well know people like Benjamin Harrison, James Whitcome Riley along with five governors, the list of portraits is numerous.

As time went on Steele's painting style and interests changed from his early days in Munich, Germany. Steele established the Indiana Art School and taught painting classes. He began to move towards a more impressionistic style concentrating on a brighter and more vivid color pallet. In 1890 he published The Steele Portfolio, a portfolio of 25 photographic prints of his paintings. Including his prize-winning work titled The Boatman.

William Forsyth began teaching with Steele at the Indiana Art School in 1891. It was during the decade of the 1890s that Steele would continue to follow his passion for painting plein air landscapes as he did in Europe. To provide for his family, he primarily painted in the summer and painted portraits in the winter. Steele gradually devoted more time to landscape painting and spent his summers in Vernon Indiana, Hanover, and on the Mucatatatuck River in search of the subject matter.

The Hoosier Group 

In 1894 T. C. Steele entered his work into the Chicago Exhibition, the exhibit was called the "Five Hoosier Painters" with a group of Indiana artists that became known as the Hoosier Group. The Hoosier group was comprised of artist Richard B. Gruelle, Otto Stark, John Otis Adams, William Forsyth, and T. C. Steele.

Brookville Indiana and the Hermitage

The Hermitage
Courtesy Indiana Historical Society
Digital Images

Around 1898 T. C. Steele and John Adams purchased a home in Brookville IN built-in 1835. Steele's wife Libbie named home The Hermitage. The location provided the artists with a scenic landscape to paint and easy access to other areas in southern Indiana. In 1899 Steele's wife Libbie passed after suffering from chronic rheumatoid arthritis and tuberculosis. Though devastated by his wife's death, Steele's career continued to flourish, and portrait commissions were his primary source of income.  Steele painted several portraits of notable Indiana people, including James Whitcome Riley and President Benjamin Harrison. Steele's notoriety as an artist provided him the income to seek his passion for plein air painting.

In 1902 T. C. Steele and his daughter daisy traveled by train to Oregon and California to see family. Mr. Steele and his daughter traveled through Chicago, Minnesota, the Dakotas, and into Saskatchewan, Canada. They continued their trip on the Canadian Pacific Railroad, which took them through the Rockies, Vancouver, and south through Washington to their destination of Oregon and Southern California. They returned to Indiana in the latter part of 1902, traveling through Arizona, New Mexico, and Kansas.

During this time, he took advantage of the time away from portrait painting to paint the beautiful west coast. Steele completed multiple paintings, some of which he entered into the 6th annual Society of Western Artist yearly exhibition. Steele was a co-founder along with artists John Elwood Bundy, John Ottis Adams, and William Forsyth.

The home Steele was renting was sold to the Art Association of Indianapolis to form the new John Heron museum and art school and was torn down in 1905.  In 1906 John Ottis Adams bought Steele's stake in the house in Brookville, Indiana.

T. C. Steele Brown County years (1907 - 1926)

T. C Steele House
Brown County, IN.

Steele began visiting Brown County, Indiana, around 1906 while he was exploring for more areas to paint in Indiana. He loved Brown County so much as a painting destination that he purchased 60 acres just south of Belmont, In. To take advantage of the serene beauty of the property and surrounding area, Steele, built a home on the property in 1907. It was during this same year Theodore Steele married his second wife, Selma Laura Neubacher, on August 9th. As newlyweds, the Steeles made the arduous journey to Nashville and moved into the four-room house Selma named "House of the Singing Winds." The Steeles continued to use the house and property as a Summer residence. As property became available surrounding the initial acreage the Steeles continued to purchase property until their final holdings were 211 acres.

In addition to acreage, the Steeles continued to expand their home along with adding additional buildings. Over the fireplace is the passage carved by Brown County artist Gustave Baumann, "Every Morning I take off my hat to the beauty of the world.". According to Mary Burnett, "one finds the pictures and books, soft old shawls and richly colored rugs that betoken a long life in the environment of art" Steele had three studios on the property that he could go to paint the surrounding hills and woods.

Selma pursued her passion for gardening, which was reflected in the flowers and gardens she added to the property. The Steeles moved permanently to Brown County to enjoy the property as a full-time residence in 1912. Steele maintained a studio in Indianapolis but spent most of his time painting the hills and valleys of Brown County. In 1916 Steele built his dream studio, a large barn close to the house where he could receive guests and display his work.

Mr. Steele was given the highest honor, Doctor of Laws, at the 1916 commencement at Indiana University. In 1922 T. C. accepted an Invitation from Indiana University to serve as an artist in residence and honorary professor of painting. The Steeles rented a home in Bloomington for the winter months and would return to their home in Belmont during the summer.  Steele's studio was on the top floor of what was then the Library where he could accept visitors and students to watch him paint. He spent his days on campus painting the buildings and surrounding grounds.  He was always willing to receive visitors and talk with students during his outdoor painting session and in his campus studio.

He was well respected among the facility as well and was given a medal at the annual Gridiron dinner of Sigma Delta Chi for his outstanding merit.  In the winter of 1925, Steele's health began to fail while painting at Indiana University.  In June of 1925, Mr. Steele underwent a month-long observation and the Robert Long Hospital in Indianapolis. His problems had been diagnosed, and he returned to the House of the Singing Winds to continue his recuperation. His condition continued to worsen and passed away 8;30pm on Saturday, July 24th, 1926. The house and grounds were gifted to the state of Indiana before his wife's Selma's death in 1945.

List of Entries at the Society of Western Artists

Submitted by T. C. Steele at the annual Society of Western Artists Exhibition (1896 - 1914)

1. The First Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted four paintings titled November morning, The hills at Metamora, October afternoon, In the valley of the Whitewater.
2. The Second Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted four paintings titled Gordon Hill, Streets in Metamora, September Afternoon, October Hills.
3. The Third Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted four paintings titled A September day, Nature dreams, The coming storm, Portrait of Brand Steele.
4. The Fourth Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted four paintings titled Lost Cove, Tennessee Mountains, Winter Twilight, A spur of the Roan.
5. The Fifth Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted six paintings titled Early Autumn, Lifting of the fog, On the Mt Carmel pike, The ravine, The shadow of the cloud, At the piano.
6. The Sixth Annual Exhibition of The Society of Western Artists submitted six paintings titled The old mill, Noonday - the willows, Breaking away, The red tree, The cloud, The mysterious river. 
7. The Seventh Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted four paintings titled Street in Redlands, Cal, Roadway near Redlands, Cal, Mount San Bernardino from Smileys Heights, Redlands, Low tide, Oregon coast.
8. The Eighth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled A morning sea., An Oregon pastoral, San Bernardino Valley. 
9. The Ninth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled Stream in autumn, The road to the sea, An autumn day.
10. The Tenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled An autumn morning, Morning at Shelburne, An August day.
11. The Eleventh Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled In the valley, The cloud.
12. The Twelfth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled Breaking away, The hill country, Frosty morning.
13. The Thirteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled The old mill, A vision of morning, Morning.
14. The Fourteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted tree paintings titled.
15. A day in March, Wood Interior, Morning in late November.
16. The fifteenth annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted three paintings titled Hunnicut's Valley, An August morning, Zenias.
17. The Sixteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled November afternoon, September morning.
18. The Seventeenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled Winter Sunlight, Winter landscape.
19. The Eighteenth Annual Exhibition of “The Society of Western Artists” submitted two paintings titled March in the woods, In early spring.
20. 
    

Ten facts about T. C Steele

1. T. C. Steele is considered the most famous of the Hoosier Group impressionist painters.
2. Steele was recognized nationally and internationally for his outstanding portraits and landscapes.
3.  He won a silver medal for The Boatman in 1885 Royal Academy Exhibition.
4. Purchased a studio wagon so he could travel the countryside painting.
5. Was an honorary professor at Indiana University.
6. His Home and Studio is 1 of the 11 designated Indiana State Historic Sites.
7. Purchased a home in Brookville, Indiana, with John Ottis Adams known as the Hermitage.
8. One of the founding members of the Society of Western Artists.
9. Was the first artist to establish a home and studio in Brown County.
10. Was an artist in residence at Indiana University.

List of Indiana Governors Portraits by T. C. Steele

1. Ira Joy Chase (1834-1895) painted in 1892
2. Isaac Pusey Gray (1825-1895) painted in 1888
3. Alvin Peterson Hovey (1821-1891) painted in 1893
4. Claude Mathews (1845-1898) painted in 1893
5. Albert Gallatin Porter (1824-1897) painted in 1885

Other Relevant Posts

T. C. Steele Studio Centennial Party

2017 T. C. Steele Spring Festival of Flowers Plein Air Paint Out

Steele and Shulz "A Brown County Partnership"

Indiana Impressions The Art of T.C. Steele 2016
Members of the Hoosier Group: William Forsyth, John Ottis, Adams, Richard B. Gruelle, Otto Stark

Other Information Related to T. C. Steele

T. C. Steele State Historic Site
Stay in the Home of T. C. Steele and John Ottis Adams known as the Hermitage

Photos of T. C. Steele House of the Singing Winds

T. C. Steele House

T. C. Steele House

T. C. Steele Studio

T. C. Steele Cabin

T. C. Steele Grave

Selma Steele Grave

Sources

1. "Theodore Clement Steele, Honorary Professor of Painting and Greatest Hoosier Artist, Is Buried Among the Hills He Loved" (1926). Charles Hepburn (1918-1925). Paper 10. http://www.repository.law.indiana.edu/hepburn/10
2. Wikipedia: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/T._C._Steele"
3. T. C. Steele. Digital Image 2017 Indiana Historical Society. All Rights Reserved, n.d. Internet resource.
4. "From Munich to Brown County" - The Life and Artwork of T. C. Steele, February 2 - June 11, 2017, Depew University, Steele Brochure, https://www.depauw.edu/files/resources/steele-brochure.pdf
5. Art Institute of Chicago (1896 - 1914) Society of Western Artist Exhibition brochures
6. Mary Q. Burnet ((1921). Art and Artist of Indiana. New York the Century Company
7.  Indiana Historical Society digital Images