John Henry Bufford (1810-1870) was a lithographer in 19th-century Boston, Massachusetts.
Biography
Bufford trained "in the Pendleton shop in Boston from 1829 to 1831."[1] According to one historian, Bufford's work as a lithographer represented "a mediocre sort of craftmanship at best. ...He had no very special skills as [an] original artist and gravitated to management."[2]
In 1835 he moved to New York, where he "worked independently for five years while accepting commissions from George Endicott and Nathaniel Currier."[3]
Bufford returned to Boston in 1839, and became "chief artist" in the print shop owned Benjamin W. Thayer (who had bought the Pendleton outfit)."[2] By 1844, the shop's name changed to J.H. Bufford & Co. (1844–1851)."[2]
By one assessment, "Bufford's firm produced lively, accomplished images in many forms, including sheet music, city views, marine views and landscapes, book illustrations, reproductions of paintings, commercial depictions of factories, and contemporary genre views; ... [and] lithographic portraits copied from daguerreotypes."[4] Artists who worked for Bufford included Francis D'Avignon and Leopold Grozelier.[4] Clients included music publisher William H. Oakes.
John Henry Bufford was an American lithographer in the 19th century. Mr. Bufford trained in a Boston studio called Pendleton’s Lithography from 1829-1831.[citation needed] Pendleton’s Lithography was created by two brothers named William S. Pendleton and John B. Pendleton. Despite the fact that the business did not last long, it became famous for printing portraits, landscape views, and sheet music covers. The Pendleton brothers became the pioneers of lithography in the state of Massachusetts. The Pendleton brothers who were originally from New York decided to start their own business when they received lithographic material from a merchant. "They acquired some lithographic materials from a merchant named Thaxter who had brought them to Boston from Europe but who did not know how to use them. W. S. Pendleton communicated with his brother, then in Europe, about the matter, and the latter on his return not only brought back considerable stone and other materials, but also what was more important several men familiar with the process.” The Pendleton brothers became so successful that in 1826 they received the silver medal for having the best “specimen of lithography” at the Franklin Institute in Philadelphia. The Pendleton business became most notable for the famous artists who had the honor of working in their studio. Many of these legendary artists include David Claypoole Johnston, William Rimme, Seth Cheney, Nathaniel Currier, Thomas Edwards, B.F. Nutting, George Loring Brown, Benjamin Champney, and Alexander Jackson Davis.[citation needed] Many of the artists had the opportunity to start their own businesses and further their artistic careers after working for the Pendleton brothers. Arguably the most famous artist to work in the Pendleton studio was John Henry Bufford. At first, Mr. Bufford’s ability and skills as an artist was considered average at best. However, through hard work and determination, Mr. Bufford was able to revive his career starting in 1835 when he moved to New York. While in New York, he worked by himself and received commissions from very famous lithographers including Nathaniel Currier. In 1839, Mr. Bufford moved back to Boston where he became “Chief Artist” for Benjamin W. Thayer who purchased the Pendleton’s lithography business. It was back in Boston where Mr. Bufford was able to receive respect and credit for his hard work and unique artistic style. "Bufford's firm produced lively, accomplished images in many forms, including sheet music, city views, marine views and landscapes, book illustrations, reproductions of paintings, commercial depictions of factories, and contemporary genre views.
From ca. 1848–ca. 1869, Bufford lived in Roxbury, and worked on Washington Street at various successive addresses: [5]
· J.H. Bufford & Co. (1844–1851), 204-206 Washington St.
· J.H. Bufford (1851–ca. 1852), 260 Washington St.[6]
· Bufford’s Lithographic & Publishing House, also known as Bufford's Print Publishing House, 313 Washington St. (ca. 1857–1864)[7]
· John H. Bufford (ca. 1869), 490 Washington St.[8]
After Bufford's death in 1870, his sons Frank G. Bufford and John Henry Bufford, Jr. continued the business.[9] By 1879, "J.H. Bufford's Sons, Manufacturing Publishers of Novelties in Fine Arts" worked from offices at 141-147 Franklin Street, Boston; and in 1881–1882 expanded the enterprise as far as New York and Chicago.[10]
References
1. ^ G.B. Bumgardner. "George and William Endicott: commercial lithography in New York, 1831-51." Prints and printmakers of New York State, 1825-1940. 1986; p.49.
2. ^ a b c David Tatham. The Pendleton-Moore Shop: Lithographic Artists in Boston, 1825-1840. Old-Time New England. Volume: 62 Number: 226 Issue: Fall, 1971.
3. ^ Bumgardner. 1986; p.49.
4. ^ a b National Portrait Gallery
5. ^ Boston Directory. 1848, 1862.
6. ^ Boston Directory. 1852.
7. ^ Boston Directory. 1857, 1858, 1862.
8. ^ Boston Commercial Directory. 1869.
9. ^ Boston Directory. 1873.
10. ^ Publishers Weekly, March 25, 1882
External links
§ James Otto Lewis. The North American aboriginal port-folio. NY: George Adlard, 1839. Illus. by Bufford.
§ The history of Temple, N. H. By Henry Ames Blood. 1860. "The lithographs of estates...(with the exception of one) were done by John H. Bufford, (Lithographer, 313 Washington street, Boston,) from sketches by himself."
§ Boston Public Library, Norman B. Leventhal Map Center, owns several maps printed by Bufford.
§ University of Pennsylvania. Keffer Collection of Sheet Music.
§ Library of Congress. Prints & Photographs Division.
§ Boston Athenaeum owns numerous works by J.H. Bufford & Co. See library's catalog.
§ American Antiquarian Society. Recent Acquisition: Patriotic Genre Print. Bufford, John H., 1810-1870. The Volunteer. '76 and '63. Boston: Bufford's Print Publishing House, 1863.
