
Winslow HomerAmerican, 1836–1910May one see it?
Washington, D.C., United States
It belongs to the collection, but is not on display at present.
1861
Oil-painting lessons with Rondel
In 1861 Homer learned to paint in oils, taking private lessons from the painters Frederick Rondel and Thomas Seir Cummings. Rondel taught him only the basics, and after about a year of teaching himself Homer was producing excellent oil work.
October 1861
At the front of the Civil War
His mother tried to raise family funds to send him to Europe to study, but instead Harper's sent Homer to the front lines of the Civil War; his first sketches were of the camp, commanders and army of General George B. McClellan on the banks of the Potomac in October 1861. The work was dangerous and exhausting, but his drawings of battles and camp life mark his growth from illustrator to painter.
1865
Full Academician of the National Academy
In 1865 Homer was elected a full Academician of the National Academy of Design. At the same time he kept selling illustrations to periodicals such as Our Young Folks and Frank Leslie's Chimney Corner.