Theodore Earl Butler, (1861–1936) an American impressionist painter, he was born in Columbus, Ohio and died in Giverny, France, May 2, 1936.
Biography
Theodore studied at Marietta College in Ohio and graduated in 1882. He studied at the Art Students League with James Carroll Beckwith, Kenyon Cox and J. Alden Weir, and under William Merritt Chase from 1884 to 1886. One of Butler’s first paintings is a copy of Menippus by Diego Velázquez(1639–1641) [1] Standing Bearded Man, 1885. Butler then moved to study in Paris. Many hundreds of American art students came to France during the late 19th century to study art. Some even enrolled at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris. To be considered for entry, students had to pass an intense entrance exam given in French.
In Paris, Butler enrolled at La Grande-Chaumière, Atelier Colarossi and at Académie Julian. Pierre Bonnard and Édouard Vuillard studied at Academy Julian in 1888-1889. Butler studied under Emile Carolus Duran. Carolus (who was a close friend of Claude Monet) said "when you can paint and draw the human figure you can do everything else”. Carolus opened an art studio in 1873 on Boulevard Montparnasse, called the “81”. His studio began with twelve students including James Carroll Beckwith and Will Low. The following year John Singer Sargent, a friend of Paul César Helleu joined them. Sargent and Claude Monet had become close friends in 1876 and there was much correspondence between them. Carolus, who was also known to have given free private lessons to some painters, introduced his students to the work of Claude Monet. Monet had moved to Giverny on April 29, 1883. Butler stayed for some time in the same building as Carolus, and Butler won an honorable mention in 1888 at the Paris Salon for a painting entitled “La Veuve”, (the Widow).
Butler at Giverny
Butler signed the register under number 11 at Hotel Baudy in 1888 (May 20- September 1888.) along with Theodore Wendel, an Ohioan who also studied at Academy Julian. Butler stayed again at Hotel Baudy from October 1891 until July 21, 1892. Besides heimself, other American painters who spent time in Giverny included John Leslie Breck, Frederick Carl Frieseke, Edmund Greacen, Philip Leslie Hale, Willard Metcalf, Lilla Cabot Perry, Theodore Robinson and Guy Rose. On July 3 Butler and Robinson had dinner at Monet’s house.
Angelina and Lucien Baudy opened Hotel Baudy in June 1887. The Hotel became the hub for many American Expatriates. At Hotel Baudy, Artists could buy canvases from Lefevre Foinet and American food celebrating Thanksgiving was served. The village began to attract a great deal of attention. According to Terra Museum historians Katherine M Bourguignon and Vanessa Lecomte, over 350 painters from eighteen countries painted in Giverny.
An exhibition of foreign artists including Butler, Meteyard, Fox, Dice, Stasburg and Dawson Watson was organized from January 31, 1892 to February 1892.
After becoming close friends with Claude Monet, Butler married Monet's stepdaughter, Suzanne Hoschedé in 1892.[2]
Suzanne is known as The woman with a Parasol and she was Claude Monet’s favorite model. The event of their marriage is described by Theodore Robinson in his diaries as
a great day - The marriage of Butler and Mlle. Suzanne." Everybody nearly at the church - the peasants - many almost unrecognizable. Picard very fine, the wedding party in full dress – ceremony first at the mairie - then at the church. Monet entering first with Suzanne, then Butler and Mme. H (Hoschede). Considerable feeling on the part of the parents - a breakfast at the atelier – lasting most of the afternoon. Frequent showers, champagne and gaiety - … Dinner and evening at the Monet's - bride and groom left at 7:3 for the Paris train. [3]
The event was also immortalized by a painting by Theodore Robinson titled The Wedding March. Theodore Butler became a key player and link between the American Colony and Claude Monet. The Butler family organized many dinners such as one held October 25, 1892 with Robinson, Hale, Hart and Marthe Hoschedé. Butler painted with emotion, sincerity and intensity. “I’m making great culinary preparations for the winter.” Theodore decided to buy an orchard and built a new house. “We, Suzanne and Jimmy and I wish that you were here we’d like to see you first rate. I have been working some, about half as much as I should - perhaps less - We are building a house back of Peggy’s in that little orchard you must remember. Said house is to be a wonder of elegance and taste - You will see it next year perhaps.[4]”
Butler participated in the publication and conception of the Courier Innocent. He did the cover and illustrated many pages. Butler painted a series of his own family: son Jimmy Butler born in 1893, and daughter Lilly Butler born in 1894. Those paintings described the daily life of his family. Most of them were done indoors. Those paintings included series' entitled The Bath, After the Bath, and Playing with Jimmy. Butler developed his own impressionist style with light palettes and loose brushstrokes, reminiscent of works done by Edouard Vuillard and Pierre Bonnard. From his garden he did a lot of landscapes showing the church of Giverny, The Demoiselles (small haystacks) and the grain stacks.
After a lingering illness, Suzanne Hoschede died in 1899. Thereafter most of Butler’s paintings were landscapes. Marthe Hoschede, Suzanne’s sister helped Butler raise Jimmy and Lilly. In 1899 Theodore Earl Butler decided to go back to the United States. A letter from Henry Prellwitz to Philip Leslie Hale indicated that Hart told him that Butler will sail on the 16th of September on La Touraine [1899].
“Dear Phil- Are you going to New York to meet Hart and Butler ? I remember hearing last spring something of that effect - In a letter just received from Hart he says they “sail on the 16th on “La Touraine“ and should arrive in New York Sunday the 24th. Possibly Saturday p.m. although I doubt it” I shall go in to town on Saturday to meet them.[4]”
He had several one man shows in New York. He exhibited in 1900, at Paul Durand-Ruel gallery in New York.
Never having gone up on a balloon. I do not know how the Statue of Liberty looks out of the clouds, but will grant that Mr. Theodore E. Butler whose work is being shown at the Durand-Ruel Galleries, knows about it. A like vantage point is needed to recognize the Nuremberg toys-house, which serve as accessories to the artist’s idealization of the Brooklyn Bridge. Mr. Butler moves in another sphere from common folk, and his retina must have a peculiar faculty for chromatic analysis. The extreme of his remarkable vision is witnessed in the evening meal”. N 13, which is wondrously made. There is an attempt to lift these excesses to an airy height by adding a poetic flavor in the titles as in No. 24. “Rain Clouds”: but if the title is correct it must have been raining bricks, for there is no misty vapory thinness: everything is as solidly packed as a steamer trunk-hence the elevated conceit comes down with a dull thud. No 3 “A Floating Mist" and Nos. 5 and 11, showing the same haystack under the baptism of an opalescent and an autumn sunrise declare some better work. Claude Monet, the great luminarist, who proved at least to the world the reasonableness of his artistic conceptions may not be proud of his Giverny pupil who should rub up against some of his own American trees and get down out of the clouds. [5]
After six months he was back in Giverny. He married Marthe Hoschedé, Suzanne's sister in 1900. Marriages to Claude Monet’s two step daughters brought him closer to Monet than any other of the American expatriates. Blanche Hoschedé Monet, John Singer Sargent, and James P. Butler, Theodore's son, were the only other painters who ever painted in Claude Monet’s garden although John Leslie Breck might have done one painting. This painting clearly shows the house of Claude Monet, and Blanche and Claude Monet at their easels.
The Butler family and the Rose family, Ethel and Guy Rose, spent a lot of time together. They rented during the summer time houses in Veules les Roses. He was also a close friend of Philip Hale, John Singer Sargent, and Maximilien Luce.
Butler in the USA (1913-1921)
In 1913, the Butler family moved to New York when Butler got a commission to paint mural panels for the home of William Paine. He contributed two paintings to the 1913 Armory Show in New York City, Marine and Fourteenth of July, Paris.[6] He founded with his friend, John Sloan, the Society of Independent Artists and served on its board from 1918 to 1921. The breakout of World War I prevented Butler from returning to Giverny until 1921.
In the meantime, Butler became involved with the American Red Cross and raised funds with Marthe Hoschedé. He marked that occasion with a painting titled “All Together”.[7]
Ancestry
Courtland Philip Livingston Butler, Theodore Earl Butler’s father is US President George W.Bush paternal great-great grandfather.
External links
References
1. ^ Museum Del Prado Spain
2. ^ Birmingham Museum of Art (2010). Birmingham Museum of Art: A Guide to the Collection. London: Giles. pp. 143. ISBN 9781904832775. Retrieved 2011-06-27.
1. ^ Robinson Diaries, Frick Art Reference Library,New York
2. ^ a b microfilm D98, Archives of American Art, Smithsonian Institution, Washington, DC
3. ^ Article, Vol 2 number 10 March 15, 1900.
4. ^ Patrick Bertrand
5. ^ Title:All Together, Exhibited at the Society of Independent Artists,1921- Reproduced, New York Times Book Review and Magazine, March 6, 1921
