Birmingham Museum of Art acquires significant work of art by African-American painter

This week, the Birmingham Museum of Art (BMA) announced the purchase of a significant work of art by Joshua Johnson, an artist widely recognized as the first professional African American painter in the U.S.

The rare painting — Portrait of Elizabeth Gilpin (1804–1892) is now on view in the BMA’s Styslinger Gallery of American Art.

“Acquiring this portrait is a testament to our continued commitment to presenting a more inclusive and comprehensive narrative of American art history. Joshua Johnson’s work adds a crucial layer to our understanding of the diverse talents and perspectives that shaped our nation’s cultural landscape.”

~ Dr. Graham C. Boettcher, The R. Hugh Daniel Director of the Birmingham Museum of Art

Joshua Johnson’s remarkable life

Who was Joshua Johnson? Here is a description from the BMA about this remarkable artist and the story behind the Portrait of Elizabeth Gilpin painting.

“Born into slavery, Johnson’s journey to becoming a self-taught professional portrait painter was unprecedented. After gaining his freedom in 1782, Johnson established himself in Baltimore, Maryland, at that time a flourishing hub of trade. He resided in the city’s Fells Point neighborhood, populated by Quakers, abolitionists, and free people of color. From 1803 to 1815, he produced the majority of his known portraits, fewer than 100 of which survive portraying a diverse range of individuals, often including children. Johnson’s unique perspective on race and societal roles in the early United States remains a critical aspect of his artistic legacy.

Johnson painted Elizabeth Gilpin around 1814, when she was about ten years old. The portrait reflects the artist’s distinctive, straightforward style in Gilpin’s direct gaze and the careful attention paid to capturing the textures of fabrics she wore. A member of a prominent Quaker family from Philadelphia, Gilpin is depicted holding a letter, seated on a simple Windsor side chair.”

BMA’s commitment to African American art 19th Century art

For decades, BMA has been adding the works of the five best known African American artists of the 19th Century to it collection. They are:

• Joshua Johnson
• Robert S. Duncanson
• Edward Mitchell Bannister
• Edmonia Lewis
• Henry Ossawa Tanner

“The acquisition of Portrait of Elizabeth Gilpin at the BMA helps to fill a critical gap in the museum’s collection, allowing for the exploration of new stories about race and childhood in early America.” 

~ Dr. Katelyn D. Crawford, The William Cary Hulsey Curator of American Art at the BMA

Exciting times at the BMA

In addition to the new Joshua Johnson painting, the BMA opened last month its newest exhibition: Heroes and Villains: The Art of the Disney Costume, presented by PNC.

They have also opened a new cafe called Juniper at the Museum.

One of The Magic City’s most beloved destinations, the Birmingham Museum of Art is the Southeast’s largest municipal art museum. Entrance into the BMA is free.

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