Alonzo Chappel was born into the bustling life of New York. The Chappel family was at home in Lower Manhattan, a neighborhood of the city where art and culture were close to poverty and struggle for survival. The Chappels' economic situation was modest. The family lived on a property across the street from the Old Bowery Theater. For residents of the island in the East River, the combination of art and commerce was part of daily life. Alonzo and his brother George showed a talent for painting at an early age. An adequate education for both sons could not be realized with the family income of the father. Nevertheless, the parents supported their sons with everything they could. Alonzo showed early interest in portrait painting. The young painter is said to have submitted a contribution to the American Institute Fair at the age of nine. The American form of the world exhibition was held annually in New York and served to promote business, art and culture. Alonzo Chappel had learned early on to consider the aspect of money. He is said to have been twelve years old when he began to place his easel in the streets of the city and portray passers-by. Alonso was looking for New Yorkers who were willing to pay a few dollars for a boy's work.
Alonzo Chappel embarked on an extraordinary training path. America took its first cautious steps towards democracy. New York developed into a city of individualists and was infused with the impulses of the Europeans who had entered the city. Chappel learned Japanese and tried his hand at window shadow painting. Equipped with great talent and skills from his wealth of experience, the painter began to study art. The prices for his portraits had meanwhile risen to an impressive 25 dollars. Although New York had early on become the center of art, the opportunities for artists to exhibit their work were limited. The American Art Union organized exhibitions of American art, which allowed artists to present their works free of charge. At the time, Alonzo Chappel ran a thriving portrait studio in Brooklyn and devoted himself to painting stage sets. Especially the activity at the theatre enabled the artist to travel in order to make sketches for stage sets.
Chappel expanded his spectrum. He regularly painted genre pictures with a reference to history and gave the works to the exhibitions. Collectors and patrons of the arts quickly became aware of the talented painter. The high quality and precise execution caused enthusiasm. The publishing house Johnson and Company made Chappel the offer to use his works as illustrations in publications on history. A harmonious and long-standing collaboration developed between the publishing house and Alonzo Chappel. During this phase the paintings on the life of Washington and the history of America were created.
Alonzo Chappel was born into the bustling life of New York. The Chappel family was at home in Lower Manhattan, a neighborhood of the city where art and culture were close to poverty and struggle for survival. The Chappels' economic situation was modest. The family lived on a property across the street from the Old Bowery Theater. For residents of the island in the East River, the combination of art and commerce was part of daily life. Alonzo and his brother George showed a talent for painting at an early age. An adequate education for both sons could not be realized with the family income of the father. Nevertheless, the parents supported their sons with everything they could. Alonzo showed early interest in portrait painting. The young painter is said to have submitted a contribution to the American Institute Fair at the age of nine. The American form of the world exhibition was held annually in New York and served to promote business, art and culture. Alonzo Chappel had learned early on to consider the aspect of money. He is said to have been twelve years old when he began to place his easel in the streets of the city and portray passers-by. Alonso was looking for New Yorkers who were willing to pay a few dollars for a boy's work.
Alonzo Chappel embarked on an extraordinary training path. America took its first cautious steps towards democracy. New York developed into a city of individualists and was infused with the impulses of the Europeans who had entered the city. Chappel learned Japanese and tried his hand at window shadow painting. Equipped with great talent and skills from his wealth of experience, the painter began to study art. The prices for his portraits had meanwhile risen to an impressive 25 dollars. Although New York had early on become the center of art, the opportunities for artists to exhibit their work were limited. The American Art Union organized exhibitions of American art, which allowed artists to present their works free of charge. At the time, Alonzo Chappel ran a thriving portrait studio in Brooklyn and devoted himself to painting stage sets. Especially the activity at the theatre enabled the artist to travel in order to make sketches for stage sets.
Chappel expanded his spectrum. He regularly painted genre pictures with a reference to history and gave the works to the exhibitions. Collectors and patrons of the arts quickly became aware of the talented painter. The high quality and precise execution caused enthusiasm. The publishing house Johnson and Company made Chappel the offer to use his works as illustrations in publications on history. A harmonious and long-standing collaboration developed between the publishing house and Alonzo Chappel. During this phase the paintings on the life of Washington and the history of America were created.
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