painting
Catalog Number
1999.30.5Dimensions
10.5" X 20" in.Description
Painting, oil on canvas by Joseph Warner (1827-1924) depicting a pasture, trees and water. The image depicts the beginning of Black Lake in Holland, MI, dated 1905.History
Joseph Warner was born near London on 10-5-1830 (death date from Findagrave.com and headstone). His obituary, however, lists his birth year as 1827. Joseph's parents, John and Mary Warner, brought the family to America ca. 1833. The Warner family settled in New York state and began farming (from Warner's obituary, see 2020.9.833).Before long, Joseph left home to become an artist. He became one of the best portrait painters of his time and was quite prominent in Toronto and Montreal (obituary). However, the arrival of the photograph forced him to switch to landscapes.
Joseph arrived in Holland, MI from Chicago in 1895 with his wife Francis (1840-1929). He painted in oils and watercolor. From about 1895 to 1923, he painted hundreds of local scenes and local people from a studio in his Ninth Street home.
His best known canvases were portraits of Rev. Albertus Van Raalte based on old photographs and prints. He did the first for the 1897 semi-centennial, but when locals declared it not a good likeness, he painted another that was well received.
Warner painted large views of Black Lake and Black River, two of which the city council purchased and hung in the council chambers in 1914. Warner also painted “bird’s-eye” views of Holland, Zeeland, Hamilton, Hope College, and Jenison Park.
Warner died on 5-16-1924 in Holland, MI. It is said that he died poor because few locals were willing to buy his works. His unsold paintings were auctioned off after his death for the benefit of his widow.Read More