Discovering Joshua Johnston

 

I have added Joshua Johnston to my list of newly discovered artist.   Joshua Johnson is known as America’s first recognized free African American visual artist.  He was born in the West Indies about 1765 and received his freedom in 1790.

Johnston focused on portrait painting to wealthy plantation owners.  The aristocratic landowners and merchants in Maryland and Virginia during this time desired their portraits to reflect their English heritage.   His work has been compared to Charles Wilson Peale.  Johnston’s work clearly showed to popular eighteenth-century British styles. 

Joshua Johnston’s paintings from the early days have survived over the years.  Johnston painted portraits until his death in 1830.   There are more than 80 paintings by Johnston exists today  in private collections or museums and galleries.