Artist: Jacob Cox
Birth: November 9, 1810
Birth City: Philadelphia, Pa
Birth County: Philadelphia
Death: 1892
Death City: Indianapolis, In.
Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis
Married: Nancy Baird
Children: Margaret Jane Cox
Subject Matter: Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life's, Panorama's
Media: Oil, Etching
Art Associations: None
Art Awards: Unknown
Art Exhibitions: Cincinnati and Indianapolis, Western Art Union
Jacob Cox was born in Philadelphia, but tragically both of his parents drowned when Jacob was a young boy. His mother was drowned when he was eight years old in a ferry-boat accident on the Delaware River. His father met a similar fate two years later when the boat he was on sunk in the mobile bay. After his father's death, the children went to live with an aunt and uncle in Washington, PA. Jacob was married at the age of twenty and along with his brother Charles took a boat in 1833 to Cincinnati where they went by wagon to Indianapolis, In. Once in Indianapolis, he opened a stove, tinware and coppersmith business which provided study income. Jacob always was interested in art an was not until 1840 that he had the opportunity to express his artistic abilities. Jacob, for the most part, was self-taught by books and practicing art when he had a chance.
A delegation called "Wild Oats of Indianapolis" hired Jacob to paint a banner for them during the William Harrison campaign. During the next few years, he continued to spend part of his time working on his art. He painted a few portraits of some Governors and Senators of Indiana. In 1842 Cox went to Cincinnati for five months opening a studio with John Dunn. During this time Jacob got the attention of several businessmen including Miles Greenwood who were art collectors.
Miles Greenwood hires Cox to painted a portrait of before returning to Indianapolis. In January of 1844, Jacob took out an ad in the Indiana State Journal advertising himself as a portrait painter with a room on Washington Street across from the post office. Between 1846 and 1854 Jacob entered some pictures to the Cincinnati Art Union that were sold during the exhibition. Mary describes the Cincinnati Art Union as "somewhat on the plan of the American Art Union of New York an interesting and important art movement in the early part of the century. " Organized in 1840 the American Art Union had 9,666 members with $50,000 in revenue by 1847.
To promote art and artist in Indianapolis the Indianapolis Art Society was organized in 1856 under the same model as the Cincinnati Art Union. During this time Herman Lieber opened an art store and was instrumental in the success of the art society. It was at this time Jacob, and other Indianapolis artist displayed their work at Lieber's art store. Jacob did very well at selling his work which provided encouragement to pursue art full time. According to Mary Burnet, "Cox worked in what is known as the ideal method, which was paramount not only in this country but in Europe at the time." Jacob admitted later in life that "Early in life I devoted too much time to the expression of pure idealism in my compositions."
Jacob became well known around Indianapolis and is considered one of the first professional artists in Indianapolis. Many people including well-known residents of Indianapolis came to Jacobs studio. Mary describes Jacobs studio on the third floor of the Talbott and New Block in North Pennsylvania Street as "lighted by a large skylight window which was the approved method of his day. The walls were hung with his pictures. many canvases were on the floor or leaning against the wall, some incomplete, some waiting inspiration." Jacob was always willing to welcome visitors to his studio.
Jacob had many patrons seeking his work including portraits and landscapes.
Many artists came to Jacob's studio to learn from the well-known painter. Jacob taught Joseph O. Eaton, Lottie Guffin, Margaret Rudisill and also his daughter Julie Cox. Late in the 1850s, Jacob taught John H. Niemeyer, India Underbill Kirkland and James F. Harris who painted the first local panorama titled "Mirror of Intemperance". The panorama took six months for James to complete and was first exhibited on September 12, 1853, with an admission o twenty-five cents.
Jacob became a well-known portrait painter and painted many Indiana Governors
Mary Quick Burnet - Art and Artists of Indiana - New York: Century 1921
Jacob Piatt Dunn - Greater Indianapolis _The History, the Industries, the Institutions, and the People of a City of Homes - Volume I- The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago 1910
Birth: November 9, 1810
Birth City: Philadelphia, Pa
Birth County: Philadelphia
Death: 1892
Death City: Indianapolis, In.
Burial: Crown Hill Cemetery, Indianapolis
Married: Nancy Baird
Children: Margaret Jane Cox
Artist Summary
Formal Training: Self-TaughtSubject Matter: Landscapes, Portraits, Still Life's, Panorama's
Media: Oil, Etching
Art Associations: None
Art Awards: Unknown
Art Exhibitions: Cincinnati and Indianapolis, Western Art Union
Biography of Jacob Cox
Jacob Cox early years
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| "Pogue's Run" by Jacob Cox 1871 |
The beginning of Jacob Cox Art Career
A delegation called "Wild Oats of Indianapolis" hired Jacob to paint a banner for them during the William Harrison campaign. During the next few years, he continued to spend part of his time working on his art. He painted a few portraits of some Governors and Senators of Indiana. In 1842 Cox went to Cincinnati for five months opening a studio with John Dunn. During this time Jacob got the attention of several businessmen including Miles Greenwood who were art collectors.
Miles Greenwood hires Cox to painted a portrait of before returning to Indianapolis. In January of 1844, Jacob took out an ad in the Indiana State Journal advertising himself as a portrait painter with a room on Washington Street across from the post office. Between 1846 and 1854 Jacob entered some pictures to the Cincinnati Art Union that were sold during the exhibition. Mary describes the Cincinnati Art Union as "somewhat on the plan of the American Art Union of New York an interesting and important art movement in the early part of the century. " Organized in 1840 the American Art Union had 9,666 members with $50,000 in revenue by 1847.
To promote art and artist in Indianapolis the Indianapolis Art Society was organized in 1856 under the same model as the Cincinnati Art Union. During this time Herman Lieber opened an art store and was instrumental in the success of the art society. It was at this time Jacob, and other Indianapolis artist displayed their work at Lieber's art store. Jacob did very well at selling his work which provided encouragement to pursue art full time. According to Mary Burnet, "Cox worked in what is known as the ideal method, which was paramount not only in this country but in Europe at the time." Jacob admitted later in life that "Early in life I devoted too much time to the expression of pure idealism in my compositions."
Jacob Cox The First Professional Artist in Indianapolis
Jacob became well known around Indianapolis and is considered one of the first professional artists in Indianapolis. Many people including well-known residents of Indianapolis came to Jacobs studio. Mary describes Jacobs studio on the third floor of the Talbott and New Block in North Pennsylvania Street as "lighted by a large skylight window which was the approved method of his day. The walls were hung with his pictures. many canvases were on the floor or leaning against the wall, some incomplete, some waiting inspiration." Jacob was always willing to welcome visitors to his studio.
Jacob had many patrons seeking his work including portraits and landscapes.
Many artists came to Jacob's studio to learn from the well-known painter. Jacob taught Joseph O. Eaton, Lottie Guffin, Margaret Rudisill and also his daughter Julie Cox. Late in the 1850s, Jacob taught John H. Niemeyer, India Underbill Kirkland and James F. Harris who painted the first local panorama titled "Mirror of Intemperance". The panorama took six months for James to complete and was first exhibited on September 12, 1853, with an admission o twenty-five cents.
Jacob became a well-known portrait painter and painted many Indiana Governors
- Governor Samuel Bigger (1802 - 1846)
- Governor Henry Smith Lane (1811 - 1881)
- Governor Noah Noble (1794 0 1844)
- Governor James Brown Ray (1794 - 1848)
- Governor David Wallace (1799 - 1859)
- Governor Joseph Albert Wright (1810 - 867)
Sources
Indiana Governors Portraits, Indiana Historical Bureau, https://secure.in.gov/history/governors.htm, Accessed 12/13/2017Mary Quick Burnet - Art and Artists of Indiana - New York: Century 1921
Jacob Piatt Dunn - Greater Indianapolis _The History, the Industries, the Institutions, and the People of a City of Homes - Volume I- The Lewis Publishing Company Chicago 1910
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