George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Going to Church 1853
George Henry Durrie was an American artist whose rural winter scenes became popular during the Civil War era. Durrie was born in New Haven, Connecticut, where his father was an emigrant from England, & his mother was a descendant of Governor William Bradford, a Mayflower pilgrim. Durrie taught himself to paint in his teens. In 1839, Durrie & his brother John began 2 years of artistic instruction from Nathaniel Jocelyn, a local engraver & portrait painter. Much of Durrie’s early career was spent as an itinerant portrait painter, traveling over the countryside in search of commissions in rural areas. In 1839, Durrie traveled to Hartford & Bethany, Connecticut; and 1840-1841, he worked in Naugatuck & Meriden, Connecticut, and in Freehold & Keyport, New Jersey. After 1842, he settled in New Haven with his new wife & growing family; but he made painting trips to New Jersey, New York, & Virginia. His account book shows at this time his portraits were between $5 to & $15 each. To supplement his income, Durrie did other painting jobs such as altering portraits, varnishing, & painting decorative motifs on window shutters. Around 1850, he began painting genre scenes of rural life & winter landscapes; as portrait painters began to lose business to the camera. An advertisement in the
New Haven Daily Register reads:
“Having engaged for a few months past in painting a number of choice Winter Scenes, [G. H. Durrie] would offer them at public sale to the admirers of the fine arts… It is needless to add that no collection of pictures is complete without one or more Winter Scenes.” Four of his prints were published by Currier & Ives between 1860 & the artist's death in New Haven in 1863; & 6 additional prints were issued after his death.
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) A Cold Morning
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Gathering Wood for Winter 1855
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Hunter in Winter Wood
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Farmstead in Winter 1860
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Farmyard in Winter 1862
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Yellow Farmhouse in Winter 1859
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Wintertime on the Farm
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Scene New Haven Connecticut 1858
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Scene in New England 1859
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Scene 1857
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Landscape
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Landscape with Log Cart 1855
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country the Old Grist Mill 1862
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country on a Cold Morning 1861
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country Getting Ice 1862
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country Farmyard 1858
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country 1861
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in the Country 1857
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter in New England 1852
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Farmyard and Sleigh
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Winter Farm Yard 1855
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) The Halfway House 1861
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Seven Miles to Farmington
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Red Schoolhouse Winter 1858
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) On the Road to Boston
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) New England Winter Scene 1858
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Ketcham Farm in Winter, New Haven
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Jones Inn Winter 1855
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Jones Inn in Winter 1853
George Henry Durrie (American artist, 1820–1863) Feeding the Sheep 1862
