“Sargent: Portraits of Artists and Friends”

John Singer Sargent (1856-1925), one of the world’s greatest painters, was born in Florence, Italy, to American parents. As a teenager, with little formal education but already with a broad knowledge of music, architecture, and the fine arts, and fluent in four languages (English, French, German, and Italian), it was clear to him what his … Read more

Civil War Biographies: A-Baird

ABBE, WALTER (1841-1924). Private, 37th Regiment, New York State National Guard, Company F. A New York City native, Abbe was first educated in private schools, then attended public schools until 1856, when he entered the Free Academy of New York City from which he graduated in 1862. During the Civil War, he enlisted as a … Read more

Painting Green-Wood

Green-Wood has come a long way in its 177 years. It started out in 1838 as a revolutionary idea: no more graveyard burials, but rather a rural cemetery, Christian non-demoninational, with acres of trees and  ponds, miles of winding roads and paths, serving New York City and Brooklyn. It then struggled to get people to … Read more