Copyright © 2021 by Wendy Waszut-Barrett
Harry A. Vincent was a scenic artist who began working with Thomas G. Moses at Sosman and Landis in 1892. His association continued with the firm until 1896 when he moved east and secured work as a scenic artist in New York. In 1922, Moses remembered Vincent as one of the scenic artists who made a name for himself, writing, “Harry A Vincent applied to me for a position. I tried to convince him that he was foolish to break into a business that had a future only in hard work. He succeeded and has become one of the cleverest landscape painters in America. Many of his pictures are being reproduced and selling well. He is now in Italy on a sketching trip.”
Harry Aiken Vincent was born in Chicago in 1861. He was the youngest child of Aiken Vincent (1816-1881) and Sarah Ann Clark (1825-1918). His mother’s obituary was published on Dec. 17, 1918 and remembered, “Mrs. Vincent was the widow of Aiken Vincent, a paymaster at old Fort Dearborn. Mrs. Vincent frequently related to her children and grandchildren takes of Indian visits” (Chicago Tribune, page 19). Her obituary also noted that she moved to Chicago in 1842. On Dec. 14, 1842, she married her husband. The couple celebrated the birth of four children in the young and bustling western town. Harry’s much older siblings were Catherine M. (b. 1846), Sarah J. (b. 1848), Hamilton Edwin Vincent (b. 1950). Harry was born eleven years after his brother Hamilton, and remained at home well after his father’s passing in 1881.
In 1860, the year before Harry was born, the Vincent family was living at 8 N. Canal street. At the time, the Federal Census listed Aiken Vincent listed as a merchant, a career that he continued throughout his life, although the types of products he sold often changed.
In 1878, the Vincents were residing at 96 Artesian Ave. and Harry Vincent was listed as an artist in the Chicago Directory. He would continue to live at this same address until 1887. In 1884, however, he married to Catharine “Kittie” Frances Ryan (b. 1863). Kitty, or Katy as she was called at home, was the daughter of William and Catharine Ryan. She grew up in Chicago and had two sisters, Bridget and Ann. Kittie and Harry two were married on Feb. 7, 1884 in Chicago. They celebrated the birth of two daughters, Ruth E. (b. ca., 1891) and Catharine (b. 1896).
Harry was not listed in the Chicago City Directory for 1888, but by 1889 was working at 263 State St. and living at 125 Sibley. Merchants located at 263 State ranged from a photography studio to Martin Emerich Outfitting Co. In 1889. Vincent exhibited with the Chicago Society of Artists. On October 20, 1889, the “Chicago Tribune” published an article entitled “The Works of Young Artists” reporting, “Harry A. Vincent shows a marshy landscape in oils truthfully studied” (page 3). Frank C. Peyraud and Hardesty Maratta also exhibited their paintings at this time. The three would soon all work for Sosman & Landis, each hired by Thomas G. Moses.
In 1892, Vincent, Peyraud and Maratta were working for Moses as part of Sosman & Landis studio’s West Side Force. That year Moses wrote, “The Sosman and Landis Company had my new studio under way on the West Side. The old Waverly theatre, 93 x 210 feet and 40 feet high; four frames were going in and there was plenty of floor space for all kinds of work.” Moses also noted that his staff consisted of A . J. Rupert, Frank Peyraud and Harry Vincent, and a number of assistants and paint boys.”
In 1892, Moses, Vincent, Rupert and Peyraud painted scenery for William Haworth’s “A Flag of Truth.” Of the project, Moses wrote, “I did a stone quarry set – a very effective scene. Vincent did a big foliage act.” In 1892, Peyraud and Vincent were also part of the sixty-seventh annual exhibition of oil paintings at the National Academy of Design in New York. On April 24, 1892, the “Chicago Tribune” announced that H. A. Vincent’s “A Prairie Farm” and Frank C. Peyraud’s “When the Sun id Slowly Sinking” were part of the New York exhibit. (page 38).
Vincent continued to exhibit his easel art while working as a scenic artist. He was a members of the Art Institute of Chicago and the Cosmopolitan Art Club. By 1894, Vincent, Peyraud and Maratta were part of a group of artists who donated their paintings for a charity. On January 17, 1894, the “Chicago Tribune” advertised that a charity sale of watercolors and oil paintings would be held in the rooms of the Chicago Society of Artists, on the top floor of the Atheneum Building (page 8). It continued ten days and the proceeds were turned over to the Central Relief Association for the benefit of the needy. Vincent also donated paintings as part of a fundraiser for fellow Institute artist Walter M. Dewey. On Feb. 2, 1896, the “Chicago Tribune” reported that Dewey had been ill for several weeks and “His fellow artists, in their sympathy for Mr. Dewey and his family have arranged an exhibition and sale of paintings for his benefit” (page 20).
Vincent’s work as a Chicago scenic artist ended when he moved to New York in 1896. That year, Moses wrote, “In July Mr. Landis dropped in to see me about going back with them, as I was not doing too well. I agreed with the understanding that all my helpers would be taken care of, excepting Vincent, who went East where he made a hit. I hustled my unfinished contracts and joined the Sosman and Landis Studios again.”
By 1897, Vincent was listed as a New York scenic artist. On Nov. 5, 1897, “Star-Gazette” credited Vincent for the stage settings in “Iskander,” a show starring Mr. Warde at the Lyceum Theatre. The New York review reported, “For this great production the scenery is designed and painted by Harry A. Vincent” (Elmira, New York, page 7). Vincent was still listed as a scenic artist in New York City in 1899, living with his family at Park Place, near 8th Ave.
In 1900, the Vincent family moved to New Rochelle, New York. By this time, several of his old friends from Chicago has moved east and were also living nearby; this group included Moses. Moses fondly remembered his sketching trips with Vincent at this time, writing, “John Young and Harry Vincent joined me quite often, as we all lived near the spot. Occasionally I would go to Seton Falls, a very rugged place…Glen Island was another favorite place for us. On a hot day about four o’clock, would run down to 21st Street Dock and take the boat around the Battery to Glen Island where the family would join me for a fine shore dinner. It was a short car ride from here to Mt. Vernon, so it was very convenient for the family to come and return by the way of New Rochelle. Occasionally, we would take a ride to Yonkers, then up to Newburgh or West Point on the beautiful Hudson River.”
From 1901-1904, the Moses family lived in Mt. Vernon New York; Moses had partnered with Will Hamilton to establish Moses & Hamilton. By 1905 the Vincents were also living in Mt. Vernon. Prior to their move to Mt. Vernon, however, the Vincents briefly lived in Pelham New York. The 1910 Census listed the family in Mt. Vernon, with their daughters nearly grown. Then something happened; I have no idea what went down.
On October 3, 1916, Harry A. Vincent remarried a woman named Mildred Deitz in Bronx, New York. It is as if his first family simply disappeared, and I have yet to track down any further information about Kittie, Ruth or Catharine. No obituaries, wedding notices or court rulings.
In 1916, Vincent was still listed as a New York artist, living in Mt Vernon. By 1917, he has remarried and moved to New York City. Although he is still working as an artist, he was now living at 904 Ogden Ave. His obituary would note that the couple moved to Rockport, Massachusetts in 1916.
Mildred was a 47-yrs.-old woman from New York, and I cannot locate any additional information about her at all. The two remained married until Harry’s passing in 1931. Between 1916 and 1931, Harry continued to paint, the two traveled overseas and eventually moved to Rockport Massachusetts. For the remainder of their lives, they lived at 30 Atlantic Avenue; Mildred never moved and remained on Atlantic Ave. until her own passing in 1953. In regard to Harry…
On October 1, 1931, his obituary was published in the “Boston Globe” (page 21):
“Harry Aiken Vincent
Rockport, Sept. 30 – Funeral services for Harry Aiken Vincent, 66, one of the outstanding American landscape artists, who died Monday at his home, 30 Atlantic av, were conducted this afternoon from the Vincent residence. The ceremony was private. Rev George Mayo Gerrish, pastor of the Universalist Church, officiating. Cremation will follow.
Mr. Vincent, who has been a resident of the town for the past 15 years, was born in Chicago and achieved fame early in life. For the first 30 years of his professional life he made his home in New York, eventually making his permanent home here.
He held his membership in the National Academy, the New York Water Color Club, the Salmagundi Club, the Allied Artists of America, the Grand Central Galleries and the North Shore Artists’ Association.
In 1907 he won the Shaw Prize of the Salmagundi Club, the Isidor Prize given by that club in 1916, the Turnbull Prize in 1918, the Porter Prize in 1925, the William Church Osborne Prize and the Paul L. Hammond Prize, given by the New York Water Color Club for his painting, ‘Rockport Harbor.’
His wife, Mrs. Mildred (Deitz) Vincent, survives.”
No mention of his first wife or children- odd, unless they dies years ago or were estranged at the time of his death.
Vincent’s artwork lived on…
In 2015, twenty sketchbooks and a portfolio of loose drawings by Harry A. Vincent were sold at auction for $12,300; here is the link: https://www.skinnerinc.com/auctions/2818T/lots/1167 Several of the sketchbooks in the lots were inscribed “H.A. Vincent,” with two inscribed “P. Cornoyer.” Probably a good thing that this this wasn’t on my radar at the time.
The auction lot not only included pencil and charcoal sketches of various sizes, but also three books belonging to Vincent – The Whistler Book, Dante’s Inferno by Gustave Dore, and A History of Architecture. One of Vincent’s sketchbooks was an artistic record, thumbnail sketches of various works and notes regarding their sale at galleries. I have to wonder if there were any scene designs included in those sketchbooks. Regardless, I am grateful for the digital age and the many examples of his sketching techniques posted online. There are currently several pencil sketches attributed to Vincent for sale on ebay, and likely from this collection. If they were more intriguing sketches, I would have bought one by now.
Fifteen years ago, the Rockport Art Museum held an exhibit featuring some of his work in “Harry Aiken Vincent and His Contemporaries.” The exhibit ran from October 6 until Nov. 12, 2006. I obviously missed the opening of the exhibit, giving birth to our son Aaron that day. Vincent is still remembered in the fine art world as a successful marine painter and his paintings sell for thousands of dollars. Here is some past works sold at auction: https://www.invaluable.com/artist/vincent-harry-aiken-0bkvzn5gec/sold-at-auction-prices/ and here is a recent listing of a painting on ebay: https://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-19-20th-LISTED-Harry-Aiken-Vincent-AUTUMN-OIL-PAINTING-RECORDS-UP-45000-/400307509884.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful to locate a scenic art example?
To be continued…
Very interesting article on Harry Aiken Vincent – He was the husband of Catherine (Kittie) Ryan Vincent, the aunt of my grandmother, Esther Hartigan. Catherine died of Tuberculosis in 1913 in Mt. Vernon NY where the family lived. Harry was a faithful husband and father and took care of her during her Illness and then apparently moved on with his life. The two daughters, Ruth (aka Ursula) and Katherine (Kay) Vincent never married but continued to live in New York and the surrounding area until their deaths. Harry’s 2nd wife Mildred Deltz was only 27 years old when they married while Harry was 54. Another fact that may be of interest is that Harry and Catherine had a son named Ralph that died at the age of 13 in Chicago in 1897, shirtly before the family moved to New York. My grandmother always told us how beautiful and gracious her Aunt Kittie was and what lovely clothes she wore.
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