plate
Catalog Number
1981.1.58bDescription
Round, porcelain plate with white border. In the center is a painting of a river with someone fishing in background. Painting done by Joseph Warner.History
Joseph Warner (1830-1924) was a professional portraitist in Holland, MI. He moved here from Chicago in 1895 with his wife Francis (1840-1929).Warner 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 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.