Lot #56: Antique William Henry Chandler(1854-1928) Hudson River School Pastel Landscape Painting

Fine well-aged original condition 

William Henry ChandlerAmericas Foremost Pastel Artist. William Henry Chandler (1854-1928) was born on June 9, 1854 in New York City. One of seven children born to Mr. & Mrs. Asa Byram Chandler, they lived in Elizabeth NJ, East Orange NJ, and Summit NJ as he was growing up. Born into a deeply religious Christian household, William displayed an interest in art during his youth but had other interests as well. A hunting accident early in his life left him with a lifelong limp. And a strong religious belief remained with him for his entire life.As a young man Chandler moved to Chicago and obtained artistic work as a cameo engraver in a pearl button manufacturing business. While in Chicago he met and married his first wife, Jennie Freeman. Together they had three children (Kathleen, Annabel, and Nellie). Tragedy struck the Chandler household hard as Nellie died when only a few months old. And then Chandlers wife Jennie died shortly thereafter from typhoid fever. With his wife gone and two remaining children to raise, Chandler returned to northern New Jersey where he lived for the rest of his life and raised his daughters with the help of his sister.The Art of William Henry ChandlerStarting around 1887 Chandler began producing his original art as an alternative to the larger-scale print runs of Currier & Ives, Taber-Prang, and other major print-makers of the time. Chandler operated under the trade name of W.H. Chandler and Co. in New York Citys Lower Manhattan, a business that he ran with his brother, Frank Chandler (1857-1912). William Chandler was responsible for creating the original art while Frank was responsible for the framing, packing, shipping, and at times, for retail and wholesale art sales. Although his business started small, it eventually grew to where he was employing nearly 20 people at its peak.