Henry Lavender Adolphus Culmer

Henry Lavender Adolphus Culmer, sometimes referred to as Harry Culmer or Henry L. A. Culmer (25 March 1854, Davington, England - 10 February 1914, Salt Lake City) was a painter/scientist, illustrator, and educator.

H. L. A. Culmer
(date unknown)
The Three Tetons

Biography

He was born in England.[1] During his younger days there, he worked as an errand boy in a print shop in London. His family joined the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and in 1868, immigrated to the United States.

Although he was mostly a self-taught artist, he attended the University of Utah (previously known as the University of Deseret) in the 1870s and studied with landscape painters Reuben Kirkham and Alfred Lambourne. During this same time, he also met and was influenced by Thomas Moran.

He painted landscapes and was best known for his panoramic views of the mountains and deserts. He was the first artist to explore and depict the natural bridges in southern Utah as well as the interior of Alaska.[1] He also painted Monument Valley, the Grand Canyon, the coast of Monterey, and mountain ranges including the Teton Range and the Wasatch Range. He believed that mountains were "the most noble subject for an artists' brush."[1] With his love of science and intense self-study, he had a deep knowledge of and admiration for nature that was noticeable in his paintings. He was especially skilled at depicting topographical details and rock formations.

In addition to his artistic activities, he worked as an associate editor for the Provo Enquirer, provided articles and illustrations for Western Galaxy Magazine, and operated a printing and publishing business. Together with his brothers, he ran a company that provided stone for some of Salt Lake City's public structures, including the City and County Building and the Post Office.[2]

His works appear in the collections of the Utah Museum of Fine Arts,[3] the Utah State Capitol Building, the Utah Historical Society, and the Springville Museum of Art.[4]

References
  1. Biography @ the Marriott Library
  2. Biographical Data @ Church Historian's Press
  3. Utah Museum of Fine Arts
  4. "Culmer, Henry Lavender Adolphus". Springville Museum of Art. Retrieved 15 September 2016.

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