Washington Allston

Born on a South Carolina rice plantation in 1779, Washington Allston, named in honor of George Washington, became a pivotal figure in American art. After graduating from Harvard in 1800, he embarked on a transformative journey to Europe, immersing himself in the art scenes of London, Paris, and Italy. In London, he was admitted to the Royal Academy Schools, where Benjamin West was president. His travels exposed him to the grand masters, particularly the Venetian Renaissance…