Origins & Early Life

Frederick Arthur Bridgman (November 10, 1847 – January 13, 1928) was an American artist known for his paintings of "Orientalist" subjects. Born in Tuskegee, Alabama, Bridgman was the son of a physician. After his father died in 1850, his mother moved to New York City with her two sons. Bridgman began working as a draughtsman for the American Bank Note Company in 1864–65, and studied art in the same years at the Brooklyn Art Association and at the National Academy of Design.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He exhibited his paintings at the Brooklyn Art Association, and encouraged by his success, he gave up his job in 1866 and moved to France with the sponsorship of a group of Brooklyn businessmen. Bridgman's first destination in France was Pont-Aven in the Brittany region, where he stayed with a group of American artists, among them Robert Wylie. In the autumn of 1866, he went to Paris and entered the studio of the noted academic painter Jean-Léon Gérôme (1824–1904), where he was deeply influenced by Gérôme's precise draftsmanship, smooth finishes, and concern for Middle-Eastern themes. While studying in the atelier of Gérôme, he became acquainted with his fellow students Harry Humphrey Moore...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

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